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Relax with Sedation Dentistry in Arlington, Texas

Do you suffer from strong feelings of fear or anxiety when faced with a dental appointment? You’re not alone. In fact, millions of Americans avoid much-needed care every year because of these emotions. At South Arlington Dental Care, Dr. Prachi Shah and her dedicated team strive to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for children and adults alike – however, we understand that this approach might not be enough. That’s why our Arlington, TX area practice offers sedation dentistry. With the help of our sedation options, patients have the safe and relaxed experience they deserve. We also serve the nearby areas of Arlington, Burleson, and beyond.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Can of nitrous oxide

Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is typically recommended for patients with mild cases of dental anxiety. Dr. Shah and her team administer the gas through a nasal mask to improve your mood, create a greater sense of comfort, and raise your pain threshold. Once the mask is removed, these effects wear off in a matter of minutes, which means patients can return to their daily routine and even drive themselves home with virtually no downtime required. Here’s a brief guide to this time-tested dental sedation treatment, but feel free to contact our office if you have any more questions.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

Lady thinks something over

Nitrous oxide can be an excellent dental sedation treatment for patients with concerns such as:

  • Discomfort around needles
  • Difficulty sitting comfortably through a dental procedure
  • Sensitive teeth
  • A powerful gag reflex
  • Anxiety or fear of the dentist’s office
  • An aversion or allergy to other sedation treatments

However, nitrous oxide is not a suitable treatment for everyone. Pregnancy, sinus congestion, respiratory illness, and certain medications can interfere with the sedation effect.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

Lady receives nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective dental sedation treatment that involves minimal side effects. To administer nitrous oxide, Dr. Shah will place a breathing mask over your nose. This mask will administer a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a hose, and you can expect to begin feeling its effects within a minute of first breathing it in. You should feel light-headedness and a sense of calm, and you will be less sensitive to pain. You will continue receiving nitrous oxide throughout your treatment, and the effects will quickly start wearing off shortly after you stop receiving the gas. The nitrous oxide should be completely eliminated from your system within fifteen minutes, meaning that you should be ready to drive yourself home.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

Man happily drives car

Part of the reason that nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry for almost two hundred years is that it does not typically result in any lasting side effects. The most aftercare you can expect to need is waiting a few minutes after the end of treatment to let any lingering dizziness subside, and you will soon be ready to drive home or back to work to continue with your normal day. However, it’s important to keep up with any aftercare instructions Dr. Shah provides for any other treatments you receive at our office.

Oral Conscious Sedation

If your level of dental-related fear is high, oral conscious sedation could be the right treatment option for you. Our team prescribes oral medication ahead of time, and patients are instructed to take it at a certain point before their procedure. Like the name suggests, oral conscious sedation doesn’t put patients to sleep. However, it does induce a deep state of relaxation that’s often so strong patients don’t remember anything about their treatment. You will need a trusted friend or family member to bring you to and from your appointment.

IV Sedation

IV sedation is very similar to oral conscious sedation, but the medication being administered is intravenous instead of oral. This creates a more immediate effect for patients and also allows us to adjust the dosage more easily if needed. A board certified specialist or anesthesiologist will be brought in for this type of deep sedation. Patients undergoing IV sedation will need an escort to drive them home from our Arlington office after their procedure, as well as keep an eye on them until the effects wear off.

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