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(936) 427-9070 128 Nacogdoches St,
Center, TX 75935 Conveniently Located on the Town Square
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Sedation Dentistry – Center, TX

Your Comfort Is Our #1 Priority

Relaxed woman with hands behind head

Many patients struggle with feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or even outright fear when faced with an upcoming visit to the dentist’s office. Thankfully, sedation dentistry can help take the edge off these negative emotions and make even the most extensive procedures pleasant and worry-free. At Family Dental Center of East Texas, we offer multiple forms of professional sedation, so patients and families can choose the options that fit their needs best. Please contact us today in Center, TX if you think you may want sedative services for yourself or your child.

Why Choose Family Dental Center of East Texas for Sedation Dentistry?

  • We See Children & Adults
  • Highly Trained & Compassionate Dentists
  • Safe, Hospital-Based Sedation at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Patient with nitrous oxide nose mask

Most people know nitrous oxide by a funnier name – laughing gas! This mild sedative technique is completely safe for patients of all ages, and it can do wonders for patients who have been avoiding necessary dental care due to anxiety. If you’re interested in learning all about this calming solution, you can always give our team a call or schedule an appointment. Otherwise, you can continue your research on the topic right here.

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Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

Woman in white shirt smiling while sitting in dental chair

A wide range of patients are candidates for nitrous oxide, including children, since this sedative is mild, fast-acting, and easy to administer. With that said, it’s commonly used for patients who struggle with dental sensitivity, experience anxiety in the treatment chair, have a fear of needles, or need particularly extensive treatment. As with anything, there are some cases where nitrous oxide isn’t ideal, including patients who are pregnant or have a breathing disorder. During your appointment, we will dedicate some time to learning all about your medical history, allergies, and the like so we can determine if this is the best option for you.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

Man smiling and relaxing while breathing in nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is a mild, but effective sedative that is administered through a nasal mask. After placing it comfortably over your nose, we will administer the gas and, within a few minutes of breathing it in, you’ll feel relaxed and content. Although it won’t put you to sleep, you may feel so comfortable that you doze off. Don’t worry – we can easily wake you if needed. Otherwise, we will let you be while working. Once we’re done, we will switch off the nitrous oxide, allowing you to breathe in just oxygen again.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Woman smiling at dentist before checkup

One of the biggest benefits of using nitrous oxide is that the effects wear off very quickly after your appointment ends. That means that your treatment won’t interrupt your day with inconvenient downtime – you can even drive yourself home! Naturally, we will give you aftercare instructions for the specific treatment you received. That way, you have the smooth and pain-free recovery you deserve.

Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry

Person taking oral conscious sedation in Center

If the patient needs a stronger form of sedation, oral medication may be the right choice. We’ll prescribe the sedative before your appointment begins and provide instructions on when to take it. While patients will technically remain conscious throughout the experience, it is very likely that they won’t remember much about what took place once they’ve fully recovered. When taking oral conscious sedation, patients need to arrange for a trusted friend or family member to escort them to and from our Center location.

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What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Person taking oral medication

Oral conscious sedation is a slightly more powerful form of sedation that makes it easier for individuals undergoing multiple procedures to remain comfortable and at ease throughout their appointment. It is delivered in the form of prescribed medication, which is provided by a member of our dental team.

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

Person under oral conscious sedation

Before your scheduled appointment time, you will be instructed to take the prescribed medication. This will ensure that the medicine begins to work so that you are more at ease by the time you reach our dentist’s chair.

Once our team is satisfied that you are comfortable and unphased by your surroundings, we will begin to administer treatment. Throughout your visit, you will feel completely relaxed and may even start to doze off. However, you will not be fully sedated but instead can be awoken easily to respond to dental cues.

Once treatment is complete, you will be allowed to return home with the help of a family member or friend. There is a good chance that you will want to rest, as it will take time for the sedation to wear off.

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

Young woman smiling before dental treatment

When determining whether you are a good candidate for oral conscious sedation, you can expect that our dental team will go over the reason for your request. This may include:

  • You suffer from past dental trauma
  • You have a fear of needles
  • You struggle to sit still because of a physical disability
  • You suffer from a sensitive gag reflex
  • You have moderate dental anxiety and have difficulty with other forms of sedation

We will discuss your current oral and overall health history and determine if any medications you are taking will interfere with sedation.

Sedation Dentistry FAQs

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe? 

Dentists receive extensive training in the proper administration of dental sedation, which means that you can expect most treatments administered by a professional to be completely safe. When you receive sedation at our dental practice, you won’t have to be concerned about any risks.

This is because we’re well aware of the potential pitfalls that can come with approaching sedation recklessly. We’ll therefore complete a thorough dental history in order to ensure that you’re a good candidate for sedatives and will monitor your vital signs throughout the procedure to ensure that you’re responding well to the treatment.

Will I Remember Anything with Dental Sedation? 

Most dental sedatives are designed to keep you awake for the procedure, but depending on which drug you use, you still might not remember much of the procedure. This is much more common in the cases of stronger sedatives, meaning you’re likely to remember less under the influence of oral conscious sedation than in the case of nitrous oxide.

If you have extreme dental anxiety, forgetting most of the procedure can be a massive boon. However, if the idea of not remembering your treatment makes you uncomfortable, a milder sedative may be a better option for you.

What Does it Feel Like to be Sedated at the Dentist? 

What you’ll feel under the influence of sedatives depends on the variety you’re using. Nitrous oxide tends to make patients feel light and bubbly, thus the moniker “laughing gas.” You’ll feel relaxed, giggly, and may experience some pleasant tingling in the extremities.

Oral conscious sedation is the opposite in many ways. You’ll still be very relaxed, but patients also tend feel a bit “heavy.” Given the strength of the sedative, you might even accidentally fall asleep during the procedure.

How Long does Dental Sedation Last? 

Nitrous oxide sets in and fades fairly quickly. You should expect the nitrous oxide to kick in within moments of the flow of gas starting, then wear off soon after the gas stops. That said, everyone experiences sedation differently; it’s still a good idea to get a ride back home from the dental office, just to be safe.

In the case of oral conscious sedation, you’ll take the pill an hour or so before your appointment time and can expect to feel the effects for the rest of the day. That being the case, you’ll need a ride both to and from our practice.

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