Sedation Dentistry – Mayfield Heights, OH

What Is IV Dental Sedation?

IV dental sedation is the most powerful form of sedation dentistry. It helps patients achieve the deepest level of relaxation while still being conscious, which makes it both highly effective and safer than general anesthesia. Since the sedative is administered directly into your blood stream, the calming effects come on right away. You may feel drowsy or that your limbs are heavy as you enter a dreamlike state. We’ll monitor your vitals closely at all times, and we’ll be able to adjust your level of sedation if needed.

The effects of IV sedation will linger for several hours after your appointment, so you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to take you home. You’ll return to your normal level of alertness within the next 24 hours, at which point you likely won’t remember very much of your appointment, if anything.

Who Is a Good Candidate for IV Dental Sedation?

IV dental sedation is not a good choice for everyone, but many patients are considered good candidates for this service. We may recommend it for patients who:

• Are very fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist
• Will be undergoing a long or complex treatment
• Have a very sensitive gag reflex
• Have a low pain tolerance or don’t respond to numbing medication well
• Cannot comfortably sit in the dental chair for extended periods

However, the only way to know for sure if you’re a good candidate for IV dental sedation is to come see us for a consultation. We’ll discuss your concerns with you and thoroughly review your medical history to see if there are any potential complications. From there, we’ll be able to determine which type of sedation would be the most effective and safe for you.

The Benefits of IV Dental Sedation

As the strongest form of sedation dentistry, IV sedation has many benefits. If you choose to move forward with the help of this treatment, you can expect to enjoy benefits like:

• Maximum relaxation without the risk of being unconscious
• A reliable means for ensuring comfort
• The sedation can be adjusted at any point during treatment
• The calming effects come about right away
• Can be used to address even the most serious cases of dental phobia

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?

If you typically experience anxiety, nervousness, or an incredibly sensitive gag reflex, then oral conscious sedation could certainly be an ideal solution. You won’t be required to wear a mask or have any needles involved. Instead, our team will look over your medical history for any allergies or medications that you may be taking to see if you’re eligible for oral conscious sedation. If you are, we’ll prescribe you a sedative that you’ll take some time before your treatment. The calming effects should kick in once your appointment starts and can last a few hours.

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

After you’ve taken the sedative, you should begin to feel significantly more relaxed and comfortable. In many cases, our patients don’t recall their appointment once they’ve finished. You’ll still be conscious during your procedure, meaning you can answer questions and follow simple instructions as needed. Our team will be sure to monitor your vitals throughout your visit so that you stay safe. Once your treatment is over, it’ll take some time for the effects to wear off. Have a trusted friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment since it’ll be a while until you feel back to normal.

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation is an incredibly effective method for undergoing dental procedures, allowing people to get the care they need while remaining as comfortable as possible. This form of dentistry is especially beneficial to patients who:

• Struggle with dental-related phobia or anxiety
• Need to undergo multiple procedures in a single appointment
• Have a very sensitive gag reflex
• Experienced a bad dental visit in the past
• Have trouble sitting still for extended periods
• Have issues getting numb with local anesthetics

Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide sedation is very safe and is considered suitable for a majority of patients. That said, it usually isn’t recommended for pregnant women or anyone with sinus congestion; furthermore, certain conditions might prevent you from having it administered. Our team will review your health history to confirm your candidacy for nitrous oxide.

If you’re able to have nitrous oxide performed, it could be a good choice for you if:

• You are nervous or anxious about your treatment.
• You have a tendency to gag easily.
• You are unable to keep yourself from moving around during procedures involving your mouth.
• You are bothered by teeth or gums that are unusually sensitive.
• Your mouth normally has trouble getting numb.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work? 

Our team will lead you back to the treatment area and help you get comfortable. A mask attached to a machine will be placed over your nose. Once the machine is turned on, you’ll simply inhale the nitrous oxide. (Oxygen will be mixed in so that you can keep breathing comfortably.) You’ll start to feel very content, and you may even find yourself growing drowsy. You will remain in your relaxed state while we carry out your periodontal procedure.

Nitrous oxide does not put you to sleep. However, it does reduce your ability to notice pain. As such, you’re less likely to experience discomfort when you have a treatment performed with nitrous oxide sedation.

Some people experience nausea as a side effect of nitrous oxide. For this reason, it’s recommended that you avoid eating any large meals for at least a couple of hours before you arrive at our office.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

Once we’ve completed your periodontal procedure, we’ll take the mask off your nose. You’ll probably need to wait a few minutes for the effects to wear off entirely; we’ll keep an eye on you to make sure that no complications have occurred.

After the effects of nitrous oxide have completely worn off, you’ll be ready to leave. Don’t worry about making arrangements to have someone else take you home; you’ll typically be able to drive on your own. Nitrous oxide doesn’t require any kind of extended recovery period, meaning you can go on with your day like normal. (Note that this is before taking any aftercare requirements of the actual procedure into account.)

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Yes, when administered by a trusted expert, sedation dentistry is completely safe. Dr. Ross has advanced training focused on IV conscious sedation and is also trained to administer oral conscious sedation and provide nitrous oxide. To ensure the process is as safe as possible, he will go over your medical and healthy history during your appointment to determine if you are eligible to receive any method of sedation. No matter the type of treatment you receive, you can count on his team to closely monitor you throughout your procedure, making sure you are safe, comfortable, and fully relaxed.

Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?

If you’re unsure whether you are eligible to receive sedation dentistry, you can count on Dr. Ross to help. Most individuals are given clearance with little or no issues; however, those with heart or respiratory problems, or individuals with diabetes or hypertension, should be cleared by a medical physician first.

If you suffer from any of the following issues, there is a good chance you will be eligible for sedation dentistry:

• Mild to severe dental anxiety
• Traumatic dental experience at another dentist’s office
• Fear of needles
• Strong gag reflex
• Require complex oral surgery

Will I experience aftereffects from sedation?

When receiving nitrous oxide, the effects of the solution will begin to wear off almost immediately once the gas is turned off. This will allow you to resume normal activity after your appointment. However, when receiving oral conscious or IV sedation, you will need to have someone escort you to and from your appointment, as the effects do take more time to wear off. It is strongly advised that you return home and rest the remainder of the day to avoid potentially injuring yourself as a result of being under sedation.

How much does sedation dentistry cost?

Before agreeing to receive sedation dentistry, it’s important that you check with your dental insurance company and find out if they will agree to cover any or all of your treatment. While some insurers will not offer any sort of coverage, others will assist in paying a portion of the cost. But no matter how your insurance company chooses to handle your decision to pursue sedation, you can count on the team at Ross Periodontics to ensure you never have to go through a procedure without it. We want you to remain comfortable, calm, and relaxed during your visit, which is why we offer flexible financing through CareCredit and Lending Club. Both third-party companies provide budget-friendly, low and no interest payment plans that allow you to break up the cost of your treatment into manageable installments.