Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, is the lightest form of sedation. It is given to patients through a small mask that covers the nose. It works almost instantly, and the dentist can precisely adjust the amount of gas you are breathing whenever you need more or less. The biggest advantage of nitrous oxide is that once the dentist turns it off, you’ll be back to normal within a few minutes! You will be able to drive home after your appointment is over. Side effects are rare, but most often include nausea, headaches and dizziness.
Oral sedation involves taking an anti-anxiety pill about an hour before your treatment is scheduled to begin. This is a useful method for patients who want an easy form of sedation that doesn’t require as much in-office maintenance or equipment. Unlike nitrous oxide, oral sedation will leave you groggy, tired and uncoordinated after your appointment, so you will need a friend or family member to drive you home.
Intravenous (IV) sedation is the strongest form of conscious sedation. It uses the same kind of medication as oral sedation, but the dentist will use a needle to inject it directly into your bloodstream. This makes the drug kick in much faster and stronger. The dentist can also “fine-tune” the dosage so you don’t get too sedated. You will recover more quickly from IV sedation than oral sedation, but you will still need somebody to drive you home.
Before receiving any of these forms of sedation, there are a few things you will need to do to prepare. First, you will need to consult with us to see if you are a candidate for sedation. There are a number of medical conditions that dental sedation can worsen, including heart, lung and liver dysfunction. Nursing or pregnant women cannot receive sedation because it may endanger the life and development of their child. Talk to our team or your primary care doctor about your diagnoses and the potential risks of sedation.
Then, you will need to provide us with a list of the prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements you take regularly. Some may interact negatively or dangerously with dental sedatives.
