Going to the dentist is crucial for your oral health, but it might not be your favorite activity. While routine dental visits are important for maintaining good oral hygiene, they can be uncomfortable and sometimes even stressful, especially when it comes to more intensive treatments.
Seeing the dentist is particularly difficult if you have dental anxiety or phobias. These are understandable issues, which is why we do our best to help you feel comfortable during your visits. We offer several different options for sedation dentistry, so we can find the approach that works best for you. We also have Saturday appointments available to make it easier to visit us.
Reduce Your Stress
Our sedation dentistry options can reduce your stress around visiting the dentist and ensure you get the vital dental care you need. Broadway Dental of Pearland provides sedation dentistry options to our patients for increased comfort and care.
Call today to set up a consultation or to learn more about sedation dentistry.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry helps you feel more relaxed during dental appointments. Broadway Dental of Pearland uses different kinds of medication, given in gas, pill, or syringe form, that soothe stress. With sedation dentistry, you can feel more relaxed during your appointments, which ensures you receive the consistent dental care you need.
Unlike general anesthesia, sedation dentistry options are mild to moderate sedation. So, while you may fall asleep, you won’t be “put under.” Some kinds of sedation dentistry help you enter a phase called “twilight sleep” where you aren’t as sensitive to pain or discomfort while still being conscious.
Many patients have some level of anxiety surrounding going to the dentist. Some patients do well with routine exams but may feel more anxious for more intensive procedures. Other patients have more severe anxieties or dental phobias and may require sedation dentistry for the majority of their treatments.
Our Sedation Dentistry Services
Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to feel more relaxed during dental treatments. At Broadway Dental of Pearland, we provide two kinds of sedation dentistry: nitrous oxide and oral sedation.
Both options ensure you are conscious during your visit, but they offer differing degrees of sedation. Dr. Allouch will help you determine which sedation method is best for your needs, considering factors like your medical history and stress levels.
You can also learn more about our sedation dentistry options below.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is commonly known as laughing gas. This is an odorless, colorless gas that you inhale using a mask-like appliance. This type of anesthetic is very safe; it is mild enough for children to use.
With nitrous oxide, you’ll feel more comfortable and calm during treatments, as the gas helps your nervous system slow down. You may also feel a bit giddy or euphoric, but you’ll be fully conscious and can respond to questions.
Another good thing about laughing gas is that the effects go away quickly. Once you stop inhaling gas, it only takes around five to ten minutes for the effects to wear off, which means you can drive home from your appointment unless otherwise advised by your dentist.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation, or oral conscious sedation, is usually in the form of a pill that you take about an hour before your treatment. You will pick the pill up from your pharmacist before the appointment.
With oral sedation, you may feel tired or even fall asleep. However, you won’t be unconscious and can easily wake up. Oral sedation is a bit deeper than nitrous oxide and impacts your motor skills, so you’ll need to have someone drive you home from your appointment. The effects will usually subside after a few hours, so you can resume your normal life the next day.
If you would like to try this form of sedation dentistry before your procedure, talk with Dr. Allouch at your next appointment.
What Type of Conscious Sedation Is Best for Me?
When you receive sedation dentistry services at Broadway Dental of Pearland, we will discuss your options beforehand to determine if nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation is best for you. We will consider your medical history, comfort levels, and more.
Generally speaking, nitrous oxide is best for patients with only mild anxiety. It doesn’t require planning as you can drive yourself to and from the appointment, although feel free to bring someone with you for support if you need it. It is also effective at reducing gag reflex.
Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, is best for patients with higher stress levels around the dentist. It’s also a good option if you’re receiving a longer treatment such as a root canal or dental crowns. Oral sedation requires planning ahead, as you’ll need someone to drive you to and from the appointment.
What About General Anesthesia?
General anesthesia is a sedation option that puts you fully to sleep for heavier procedures. Because of the strength of this sedation, general anesthesia must be administered and monitored by an anesthesiologist. For this reason, it is usually administered in a hospital or surgery center setting and is only offered in dental offices where they can have a trained anesthesiologist on hand.
We do not offer general anesthesia at Broadway Dental of Pearland at this time, but if your health necessitates having stronger sedation during a certain procedure, we can refer you to a trusted dental partner in the area.
Top Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry has many wonderful pros for patients. Some of the reasons to consider sedation dentistry include:
- Feeling More Relaxed at the Dentist: The most obvious benefit of sedation dentistry is that you’ll feel more relaxed. You can lower your anxiety levels during all kinds of treatments and feel calmer during your appointments.
- Receiving Vital Dental Care: One of the most important advantages of sedation dentistry is ensuring you receive the dental care you require. It’s easy to put off going to the dentist if you feel stressed, but routine visits are crucial to having a healthy, pain-free smile.
- Saving Time with More Efficient Appointments: If you have issues like a strong gag reflex or difficulty staying calm during your visits, it can take longer to finish an appointment. This can make the experience more stressful for you. With sedation dentistry, appointments are generally faster and easier.
- Increasing Your Comfort: We want you to feel as comfortable as possible when you’re with us! While we realize dental appointments aren’t always fun, we do what we can to make the process more enjoyable, or, at least, less stressful. With conscious sedation, you can feel more comfortable.
- Creating More Positive Associations with Dental Health: If you’ve had difficult experiences with the dentist in the past, it’s natural to feel hesitant or have dental anxieties. With sedation dentistry, you can start to foster a more positive feeling toward dental care.
Sedation dentistry is meant to help you as a patient receive dental care without stress. If you want to know about sedation dentistry for you, give our office a call!
Are There Any Risks of Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is overall very safe. While there are some potential issues, such as allergic reactions in very rare cases, other medications can address these issues. Before sedation dentistry, we will also make sure you don’t take any medications that may react poorly with sedation dentistry.
While sedation dentistry is safe for the vast majority of patients, you may notice some short-term side effects, such as:
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Dry Mouth
- Nausea
Sedation dentistry is also generally safe for kids. Parents may feel understandable worry about conscious sedation for their children. But, luckily, the side effects for children are also short-term. These include:
- Snoring
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Irritability
We will also monitor your child when they wake up to make sure they can go home safely. Most side effects will wear off within a couple of days.
If you notice lingering side effects or have concerns, don’t hesitate to call our office!
Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry has advantages for many patients who come to visit Broadway Dental of Pearland. Depending on the procedure, type of sedation, and medical history, people of all ages can receive sedation dentistry, even children.
Generally, sedation dentistry is a good option for anyone who has:
- Fears Around Seeing the Dentist
- Very Sensitive Teeth
- A Strong Gag Reflex
- Resistance to Local Anesthesia
- Fears of Needles or Other Medical Fears
- Difficulty Controlling Their Movements
- Unique Physical, Cognitive, or Behavioral Needs
Sedation dentistry can help all kinds of patients, including you. Whether you have a medical condition that makes dental procedures more difficult or just get stressed out while in the dental chair, we want to make the experience as easy as possible!
When you have dental anxieties or other issues surrounding dental visits, you may avoid getting dental treatments. Without consistent care, you’re more likely to have long-term problems, such as gum disease, tooth loss, and more.
Sedation dentistry ensures you have healthy, functional teeth without the stress.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Sedation Dentistry?
The amount of time it takes to recover will vary depending on the type of sedation you receive. The way each person’s body responds to the medication can also vary.
In most cases, it takes around 10–20 minutes to recover after nitrous oxide. After this point, you should be able to safely drive. We will have you wait at the office until you are awake enough to safely leave the appointment. You can resume normal daily activities like work and school right after your appointment.
For people who receive oral conscious sedation, it can take around 24 hours to fully recover, which is why you can’t drive yourself home from the appointment. You’ll need to go home and rest and sleep before you can return to normal daily activities the next day. Some people may take a bit longer to recover, but you should be back to your usual self in a couple of days.
Please give us a call if you have concerns. You’ll also be able to ask as many questions as you need during your appointment.
Experience Anxiety-Free Dentistry at Broadway Dental of Pearland
Whether you have severe dental anxiety or just get stressed about certain procedures, sedation dentistry could be the solution that eases your mind. We want all of our patients to get the quality of care they deserve without the stress, so we will work with you to personalize your treatment details and ensure your comfort.
Sedation dentistry can be paired with many procedures, even routine ones, so if you feel extra stressed about visiting our office, don’t hesitate to ask about sedation dentistry. We want you to feel at ease and have your needs met when you visit our office, and sedation dentistry can provide comfort and ensure vital dental care.
Contact Broadway Dental of Pearland today to request an appointment!
Meet the Doctor
Dr. Allouch earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. He continues his advanced training at the Kois Center in Seattle, WA, which focuses on research-based education. He is part of the elite 6% of general dentists in the U.S. to earn a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, and he holds an Associate Fellowship with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Allouch specializes in Comprehensive and Implant Dentistry and in enhancing patients’ total health.
