Relax During Your Visit
Do you feel anxious about visiting the dentist? You’re not alone. In fact, many people feel fear when they think about dental offices.
At Town Centre Family Dental, you don’t have to suffer through your dental visit. The dental implant process might sound intimidating to some, but our sedation options allow you to kick your feet up and relax while we restore your smile.
Reasons for Sedation
Aside from fear and anxiety, our patients choose sedation for various reasons. Some of these reasons include:
- Sensitivity during dental procedures
- Having a bad gag reflex
- Needing a large amount of dental work
- Trouble sitting still in the dentist’s chair
- Low pain threshold
If you’re interested in sedation, all you need to do is tell us and we can bring in Dr. Glen Atlas, a board-certified anesthesiologist. He’ll administer and monitor your sedation throughout the procedure to ensure you’re safe.
Nitrous Oxide
Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a lower level of sedation that will help you feel more comfortable. A mask will be placed over your nose and mouth so you can inhale the gas and feel more relaxed.
You’ll remain conscious but won’t feel as anxious. The gas also wears off quickly after your procedure, so you’ll be able to drive yourself home.
Oral Conscious
An oral sedative comes in the form of a pill or liquid that is ingested before the procedure. You’ll remain conscious but be less aware of your surroundings and any sensations during the procedure.
This sedative is stronger and takes a while to wear off, so make sure you have someone with you who can drive you home.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is the strongest form of sedation we offer, putting you into a sleep-like state during your procedure. The sedative is usually administered through an intravenous line, or IV, into your vein where it will start to work immediately.
You’ll be unconscious and unaware of anything while we work on your smile. Anesthesia does take a longer time to recover from because it’s strong, so you won’t be able to drive yourself home after your procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sedation Dentistry
What can I expect with dental sedation?
Here at Towne Centre Family Dental, the sedation process is efficient, safe, and most importantly, relaxing.
To prepare you, we’ll either provide you with an oral sedative to take a couple of hours before your appointment, lightly administer nitrous oxide through a mask, or we’ll safely put you to sleep throughout your surgery.
Does oral sedation put you to sleep?
With oral sedation, you generally won’t fall asleep, but you will become drowsy. In some cases, patients will doze off but can be awoken by a gentle shake.
How long does dental sedation take to wear off?
A good rule of thumb is to allow a full 24 hours after the procedure for the full effects of dental sedation to wear off, but this can also depend on the type of sedation used.
Can I drive home after my dental implant appointment with sedation?
We always suggest having someone drive you home after your appointment to be safe if you’ve had oral sedation or general anesthesia. Generally, the nitrous oxide will wear off quickly after your procedure but if you still feel the effects of the gas, we recommend calling someone to drive you home.
Contact Us for a More Comfortable Dental Visit
The process of getting a bright new smile shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Our sedation options can help you relax while you get your implants placed.
If you’re interested in choosing sedation for your dental implant procedure, call our office at 908-698-4436. You can also fill out our online contact form and we’ll get right back to you.