Sedation Dentist Little Rock

A Way to Relax During Your Dental Appointment

Sedation has many benefits when used in a dental office. It can help restless patients stay still for procedures that could take a long time. However, in many cases, sedation dentistry in Little Rock is offered to those with strong dental phobias or anxieties. Thanks to these treatments, people who once avoided dental care at all costs can now get the expert attention they need and enjoy a relaxing experience. If you would like sedation dentistry to be used at your next appointment, get in touch with Little Rock Family Dental Care today.

Why Choose Little Rock Family Dental Care for Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation Options Suitable for Severe Dental Anxiety
Certified Anesthesiologist on Staff
Open on Saturdays at Our West Location

Close up of patient under effects of dental sedation

Man in grey shirt holding glass of water and a pill for sedation dentistry in Little Rock

Oral Conscious Sedation

If you struggle with dental-related anxiety, then you know all too well how nerve-wracking even routine dental cleanings can be. Don’t worry; there is a way to get the essential dental treatments you need without stress: oral conscious sedation. Essentially, this mild-to-moderate sedative – you just take one small pill – allows patients to take the edge off dental nervousness without the use of needles. To learn more about this calming solution, read on or contact our team today!

What is Oral Conscious Dental Sedation?

Known as one of the most popular methods of sedation dentistry, oral conscious sedation is a desirable option because of its effectiveness and ease of use. It involves taking a sedative pill to reduce your fears and anxiety tremendously. You don’t have to worry about needles or wearing a face mask!

During your consultation, our sedation dentist in Little Rock will review your medical history to determine whether this option is right for you. Once you get the green light, you’ll be prescribed a medication like Valium, Ativan, or Halcion to take when you arrive at the office or just before your appointment. The effects are long-lasting and usually begin within 15 minutes.

How Does Oral Conscious Dental Sedation Work?

You’ll be given prescription medication to take before the appointment even begins. That way, by the time the treatment starts, you’ll be in such a relaxed state that you might find yourself dozing off. Of course, you can still be awakened easily – the sedative is not meant to put you to sleep.

To ensure your safety, our team will monitor your vitals during the procedure. It’s worth noting that you may not even remember the treatment at all afterward, which many patients with dental phobias consider to be an advantage. Since the effects will last the entire appointment, you’ll need to arrange for someone you trust to drive you home.

Female dentist talking to patient with tooth pain

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Dental Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation in Little Rock is a highly effective way to relieve your anxiety. It’s a great option for patients who:

Have dental fear, anxiety, or nervousness
Regularly cancel or reschedule dentist appointments because of their nerves
Suffer from a sensitive gag reflex
Have difficulty keeping their mouth open or sitting in a treatment chair
Are getting multiple treatments or one long treatment in a single appointment
Struggle to achieve numbness with local anesthesia
Had traumatic dental experiences in the past

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Many patients only need minimal sedation. At this level, you’ll feel calm, but you’ll remain conscious and aware. Nitrous oxide sedation in Little Rock is administered through a nasal mask that you’ll wear throughout the procedure. We can increase or decrease the amount of nitrous oxide you receive depending on your comfort level. Once the mask has been removed at the end of your visit, the effects will wear off within a few minutes; you should be able to continue the rest of your day as normal.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

The only way to know if you are a good candidate for nitrous oxide is to meet with your sedation dentist in Little Rock. During this visit, we will discuss your medical history and oral health to determine if there might be any reason you cannot receive this mild form of sedation. Most patients who experience some form of dental anxiety are considered candidates for treatment, especially if:

You have a sensitive gag reflex
You have trouble getting numb with other solutions
You have had a traumatic dental experience
You have difficulty getting comfortable in the dentist’s chair
You have tooth sensitivity
You have a fear of needles

If you take certain medications, it may make you ineligible for treatment, as it can cause the nitrous oxide to be less effective, so it’s important to share this information with our team during your appointment.

Female patient with eyes closed having nasal mask placed

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

When arriving for your appointment, our team will greet you and help you get comfortable in the dentist’s chair before placing a nasal mask over your nose. In a matter of minutes, the nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture will be turned on, and you will be instructed to inhale through your nose. The effects of the solution begin to work quickly and will cause you to become more relaxed and completely comfortable.

Throughout your procedure, our Little Rock Family Dental Care team will monitor the amount of sedation you receive, adjusting the levels if necessary. You should feel no pain or discomfort during your visit, and you will remain cognizant enough to respond to our cues.

Once everything is finished, we will turn off the gas, remove the mask, and instruct you to wait a few minutes. The effects will quickly dissipate, allowing you to leave without anyone needing to drive you home.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

The reason most dentists continue to offer nitrous oxide sedation is that it requires virtually no downtime after your appointment. Because of how quickly the effects dissipate following the removal of the mask, you will begin to feel like yourself in just minutes. This allows you to return to work, school, or home and resume normal activity after your visit.

IV Sedation Dentistry

This advanced form of sedation is delivered straight to your bloodstream through an injection, ensuring that it takes effect quickly. You will be deeply relaxed; you may even fall asleep, although we could still wake you up easily. Like with oral conscious sedation, the medication will likely have an amnesiac effect, so you won’t recall the procedure itself later. Be sure to make arrangements for a trusted person to drive you home afterward.

Learn More About IV Sedation

Sedation Dentistry FAQs

When administered by a professional with proper training, dental sedation is a safe and effective way to manage pain and dental anxiety. At Little Rock Family Dental Care, we have a certified anesthesiologist on staff, so you can rest assured you are in good hands! In addition, before deciding whether to administer sedation, your dentist will go over your medical history and current medications (prescribed and over the counter) to find out if there may be any negative interactions. While you’re sedated, the dentist and team will closely monitor your vitals at all times – blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate, etc. – to ensure you’re safe. Finally, it’s worth noting that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) considers nitrous oxide to be a safe sedation technique for younger patients as well.

Even though you’re technically awake with most forms of dental sedation, chances are you won’t remember much of your procedure. However, this memory loss effect of sedation is part of what helps patients with extreme anxiety and/or negative past dental experiences get the care they need. In general, IV sedation is more likely to make you forget your procedure than oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide. If you undergo an extensive procedure that requires general anesthesia, you will be fully unconscious and should not expect to remember anything.

The answer to this question depends on the type of sedation. Nitrous oxide is the quickest to wear off. Within five minutes of removing the face mask and no longer inhaling the gas, you should feel normal and alert. You can even drive yourself back home or to work!

With oral conscious sedation, the pill’s effects might remain active for the rest of the day. You should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours after your procedure. Be sure to arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home afterward.

With IV sedation and general anesthesia, much of the sedative’s effect will wear off soon after your procedure. However, you may still feel groggy for several hours afterward. Similar to oral conscious sedation, you should avoid driving until the next day.

The cost of sedation dentistry in Little Rock varies depending on different factors, including which method of sedation is used. How long a patient is under the sedative’s effects can also influence the final cost. IV sedation and general anesthesia typically cost more than nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, as there are more risks involved. In addition, more training is required to administer these sedatives. If you think you could benefit from sedation dentistry but are worried about the cost, ask our staff about CareCredit! Flexible financing through CareCredit allows qualified patients to break down the costs of dental sedation into manageable monthly payments.

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