Sedation Dentistry – Barnegat, NJ
Make Your Visits Stress-Free & Relaxing
It’s not uncommon for adults to experience fear, anxiety, or nervousness when they visit their dentist’s office. Dental phobia can not only make each of your dental treatments and the time leading up to them unbearable and nerve-wracking, but it’s also a primary reason why countless people avoid the dentist, which isn’t great for their oral health. To help make our patients with dental phobias feel more comfortable and at-ease while they get the treatments they need to enjoy a healthy smile, we offer sedation dentistry in Barnegat, NJ!
Why Choose NU Dental of Barnegat for Sedation Dentistry?
- Dental Team Trained in Personalized Treatments
- Relaxing, Modern, & Clean Dental Office
- Dentist Dedicated to Helping You Feel at Ease
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
Oral conscious sedation in Barnegat is a great method for patients who have moderate to severe anxiety or fear at the thought of visiting a dentist. Before your appointment, we’ll prescribe a pill for you to take. That way, once you arrive at our dental office, you’ll already feel calmer and more comfortable. We’ll guide you back to the treatment room, get you comfortable, and begin your procedure or checkup and cleaning. Because the effects of this form of sedation last longer, you’ll need to have a trusted friend or family member drop you off and pick you up from our dental office. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to know more about oral conscious sedation.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
If you suffer from mild or moderate dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation can reduce stress and keep you comfortable during your appointment. Unlike nitrous oxide, pill medication offers a stronger effect but does take more time to wear off. This is why it’s necessary to have a family member or friend escort you to your appointment and take you home.
The good news is that the effects will begin within 15-20 minutes of taking the pill, allowing you to feel less worried and anxious when arriving for your appointment. You may not even remember much from your visit, which can be helpful if you’ve experienced a past traumatic event at another dentist’s office.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Your sedation dentist in Barnegat will prescribe an oral medication for you to take before your appointment. Once taken, you will begin to notice a change in the way you feel. You’re likely to become tired, lightheaded, and much calmer. Once we are confident the pill has taken full effect, we will begin to perform your dental checkup and cleaning or restorative procedure.
While you might feel as if you are falling asleep, you will remain aware of your surroundings, allowing you to respond to any cues offered by your dentist or dental team. Once the procedure is completed, you will be escorted home to allow the effects to wear off.
Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
The only way to know for sure if you are a good candidate for oral conscious dental sedation is to discuss it with Dr. G. He will want to know more about your medical history and any medications you are currently taking. He will also go over the possible cost that is required to receive oral conscious sedation. If you suffer from any of the following, there may be a good chance you’ll be eligible for this type of sedation dentistry:
- Mild or moderate dental anxiety
- Strong or sensitive gag reflex
- Traumatic past experience at a dental office
- Difficulty holding your mouth open during an appointment
- Difficulty staying still or seated for prolonged periods
- You require multiple treatments during a single appointment
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
If you struggle with minor to mild dental anxiety, nitrous oxide dental sedation may be the perfect solution for you. It’s also a great choice for patients who have sensitive teeth, overactive gag reflexes, jaw problems, back problems, neck problems, or any other issue that may make dental work or sitting in the examination chair uncomfortable. You’ll simply wear a small mask over your nose, and within moments of breathing in, you’ll begin to feel light, happy, and relaxed. After your treatment, the effects will wear off just as quickly, meaning you can get back to your day without any interruption!
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide Sedation?
Most all patients of any age can be a good candidate for nitrous oxide sedation. As long as you are not pregnant or suffering from a respiratory illness, nitrous oxide sedation may be right for you if you:
- Typically have trouble getting numb from local anesthetics
- Have an overactive gag reflex or sensitive teeth
- Have difficulty controlling your movements
- Feel physically uncomfortable sitting still for long periods of time
- Need a little help to feel relaxed in the examination chair
How Does Nitrous Oxide Sedation Work?
Nitrous oxide sedation is the lightest form of sedation, and it works quickly and reliably. Once you sit in the treatment chair, we’ll place a small mask over your nose that will administer a colorless, odorless gas. Within about two to five minutes of breathing the gas, you’ll feel a wave of euphoria and relaxation wash over you. You’ll remain this way throughout your treatment, and we will be able to adjust your level of sedation at any time during your appointment to ensure your comfort and safety. Once we’ve completed your treatment, we’ll remove the mask and the effects will quickly wear off, so you’ll be able to go on with the rest of your day as you normally would. You’ll even be able to drive yourself home!
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide Sedation
One of the reasons why nitrous oxide sedation is so popular is because it requires practically no aftercare. While other sedation options will leave you feeling groggy for the rest of the day, the effects of nitrous oxide sedation wear off entirely within just a few minutes. Then, once you’ve returned to your normal level of consciousness, you’ll be able to go back to your day without any interruption. In very rare cases, a patient may sometimes feel mildly nauseous after nitrous oxide sedation, but this symptom is fleeting. In fact, the vast majority of patients experience no immediate or long-term side effects.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
If you have dental anxiety of phobia, heading to the dentist can be a stressful task. Fortunately, we offer sedation dentistry to help make your experience as comfortable as possible. However, it pays to be well informed before committing to sedation options. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about sedation dentistry in Barnegat. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, just give us a call! We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and schedule you for a consultation.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Sedation dentistry is perfectly safe for most patients. Most people handle nitrous oxide sedation without an issue. Before determining whether or not sedation is right for you, Dr. Gizachew will go over your medical history and current medications to ensure that there won’t be any negative interactions. While you are sedated, the dentist and team will closely monitor your vitals at all times to make sure that you are safe.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
While you are technically awake with most forms of sedation, chances are that you won’t remember much of your procedure. The memory loss effect of the sedation can make getting dental care much easier for patients who are suffering from extreme anxiety or negative past dental experiences.
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?
This depends on the type of sedation that you’re receiving. Nitrous oxide makes you feel light, related, and euphoric. Some patients experience a slight tingling sensation in their arms and legs. You may even get the giggles, which is why nitrous oxide is sometimes called “laughing gas” in the first place. If you opt for oral conscious sedation, you get a deeper sense of relaxation, and you may even have trouble speaking or staying awake. Some patients even doze off during their procedure.
Will I feel any pain with dental sedation?
With sedation dentistry, your ability to feel pain is suppressed. Even if you do experience some pain, it is more likely to be pressure than actual discomfort. Depending on your procedure, your dentist may also numb your mouth with a local anesthetic to prevent pain from occurring.
Can dental sedation make you sick?
It’s quite rare for patients to experience nausea with nitrous oxide sedation. Since oral conscious sedation is stronger, there is a slightly higher risk. Just to be safe, it will most likely be recommended that you don’t eat for a few hours before your procedure. If you struggle with skipping meals, you may want to schedule your procedure first thing in the morning.