Sedation Dentistry – Arlington Heights, IL
Breeze Through Your Next Procedure
We understand that some patients feel a degree of anxiety, nervousness, or even fear when they contemplate the prospect of undergoing dental procedures. If that is true of you, you can rest assured that we want to help you have a positive experience! That is why our Arlington Heights team is proud to offer sedation dentistry. With the help of properly administered medications, you may be able to breeze through your next procedure.
Why Choose Costello & DeHart Dental Excellence for Sedation Dentistry?
- Two Types of Sedation Available
- Highly Trained Dentists and Team
- Alleviate Dental Fear and Anxiety
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
There’s a good chance that you know nitrous oxide by a different name: laughing gas. This calming solution is inhaled through a nasal mask and, once you breathe it in, it induces a feeling of relaxation or possibly even giddiness. If you’re interested in learning more about this type of dental sedation – including who is generally a candidate and what aftercare is required – keep reading!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
We often recommend nitrous oxide for patients with mild dental anxiety. However, it’s also something to consider if you have a strong gag reflex, if you have difficulty feeling numb, or if you need extensive care (like multiple tooth extractions). When you come in for your initial appointment, we will learn all about your dental history, any medications you’re taking, and why you’re considering nitrous oxide so we can determine if you’re a candidate. If you are, then we will add it to your treatment plan and review what to expect.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is administered once you arrive at our office for your appointment. We will first help you get settled comfortably into the treatment chair. Then, we will place the nasal mask comfortably over your nose and ask you to breathe in through your nose. After a couple of minutes of doing so, you’ll begin to feel the effects. For some patients, it’s a light and euphoric feeling. For others, it’s a feeling of complete calm. Either way, you won’t feel any anxiety, stress, or nerves. One of the best parts is that the sedation levels can be adjusted throughout your procedure so you remain comfortable and completely at ease.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
One benefit of nitrous oxide that often gets overlooked is that the effects wear off almost as quickly as they began. That means no lingering grogginess, no arranging for an adult to drive you to and from your appointment, and no using your PTO. Instead, you can jump right back into your normal routine following your appointment (as long as the nature of your treatment does not require you to get some extra rest, of course).
Want to learn more about nitrous oxide sedation leading up to your next appointment? Don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions!
Oral Conscious Sedation
Many people feel nervous when it comes to dental visits, but if you’re overly afraid, you might avoid scheduling everything from routine checkups and cleanings to more complex procedures needed to protect or repair your smile.
Fortunately, our team in Arlington Heights offers multiple options to help you feel calm and comfortable throughout your visit, including oral conscious sedation. Continue reading to learn more about this medication and when it might be recommended, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Unlike nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which is administered through a gas mask placed over your nose while our team works, this option is prescribed as a pill, such as Valium, Ativan, or Halcion. We typically ask that patients take it before arriving for their scheduled appointment so that the effects of the medication kick in by the time we begin your procedure.
This option helps patients overcome various challenges that might otherwise interfere with their dental care, such as severe anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or struggle to sit still for longer periods.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Once the pill is swallowed, it can take about 15 minutes to feel the impact. Once you do, you’ll likely feel a deep sense of calm and relaxation. Some patients also report a weighted or heavy feeling in their limbs, and although it doesn’t necessarily “knock you out”, you might feel so soothed that you accidentally doze off during your treatment.
Our team will carefully monitor you throughout your visit to ensure that you remain safe and healthy, but it can linger in your system for the remainder of the day. As a result, it’s usually best to arrange to have someone help drive you home after your appointment.
Who is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Our team is happy to offer oral conscious sedation to help you through your upcoming procedure, but it’s not necessarily the right solution to meet everyone’s unique needs. We might suggest this medication for those who:
- Suffer from severe fear that prevents them from attending dental appointments.
- Regularly cancel or reschedule because they’re nervous about receiving bad news.
- Have a sensitive gag reflex.
- Are undergoing several services or a longer procedure in one visit.
- Struggle to hold their mouth open for the duration of their treatment.
- Are resistant or allergic to local anesthesia.
- Have had negative dental experiences in the past.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is good for patients who struggle with anxiety or fear, but that is not its only application. Here are some other circumstances in which we may recommend sedation:
- You have a sensitive gag reflex.
- You have a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to stay still in the treatment chair for a long period of time.
- You need to undergo multiple procedures or complex treatment.
- It is difficult for you to keep your mouth open for long periods of time.
Before approving you for sedation, we will make sure that you do not have any strong contraindications for it. For example, it is not normally used for pregnant individuals or people with certain respiratory conditions.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Most patients can safely receive some form of sedation to make their dental appointments easier and more comfortable. Dentists have used nitrous oxide to help patients sit calmly through procedures for almost two centuries, and during this time it has proven itself to be incredibly safe. Nitrous oxide results in no lingering side effects and is completely eliminated from the body about fifteen minutes after treatment, so most patients can receive it without complications.
Before recommending sedation, our dentist will carefully evaluate your medical history and list of medications to make sure you can receive the treatment safely and without complications. While you are sedated at our Arlington Heights office, our team will carefully monitor your vital signs to ensure your wellbeing.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe While Pregnant?
It may be possible for the drugs used for sedation dentistry to be passed to the feus through the placenta, and using sedatives during the first trimester may lead to development problems. These treatments may also encourage premature labor if received during the third trimester. While it may be safest to receive sedation during the second trimester, it may be best to simply wait until after the pregnancy before performing any procedure that requires it. If you must receive dental sedation while pregnant, nitrous oxide is probably the safest option since it causes no long-term side effects and is quickly eliminated from the body.
Will I Remember Anything After Dental Sedation?
While you can expect to remain awake when receiving nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, you may not remember the details of your procedure afterward. However, this can be beneficial for patients with severe dental anxiety since it can prevent them from forming new unpleasant memories related to oral healthcare.
Will Dental Sedation Make Me Behave Oddly?
While you have probably seen dental sedation portrayed as causing patients to blab secrets, behave erratically, or hallucinate in movies or cartoons, these humorous depictions are not true to life. It is extremely unlikely that you will say anything you wouldn’t normally or laugh hysterically while sedated, and you will not see things that aren’t there or be compelled to reveal private information. Even if you do say something silly or embarrassing while sedated, you can rest assured that our dental team will not discuss what was said afterward.
Does Dental Sedation Put You to Sleep?
While sedation dentistry is sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” you are unlikely to fall asleep when receiving nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation. However, you may feel as if you dozed off if your memories are hazy after the procedure. If you do drift off to sleep during treatment, our dental team will gently nudge you awake.