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What Does Sedation Dentistry Actually Feel Like?

What Sedation Dentistry Actually Feels Like

As one of the leading sedation dentistry practices in the area, we take pride in educating our patients on their options to ease dental fears. Whether you’re visiting for a routine dental cleaning or have a more invasive procedure scheduled, such as getting a cavity filled, sedation dentistry can help replace anxious fears with calm, soothing thoughts.

Sound too good to be true? The good news is that it isn’t! Sedation dentistry has helped hundreds of our patients who struggle with mild to moderate to extreme dental anxieties. We take a compassionate approach to ensure our patients feel heard and understood from the time we first speak with them on the phone to the moment they step foot in our office.

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What to Expect

One of the most common questions we receive about sedation dentistry is: what does it feel like?

The main goal of sedation dentistry is to help put you at ease and help you feel comfortable and confident during your visit, allowing those stressful thoughts to fade away.

Because there are several different types of sedation dentistry, it can feel differently depending on the patient and circumstances. However, one thing remains true for all types: sedation offers a painless dentistry experience.

  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation. More commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide sedation is a safe and mild sedation agent. This sedative is most often used on children or adults who struggle to sit still for a long appointment, have strong gag reflexes or experience mild dental anxiety. The colorless and odorless gas is given through a small nosepiece for a short period of time. Similar to an oxygen mask, a patient will breathe normally and begin to feel the effects of nitrous oxide within a few minutes.
    While it’s known as laughing gas, it won’t make you laugh. The gas slows down your nervous system, helping you feel more relaxed. A common side effect is lightheadedness or heaviness in the arms and legs. Fortunately, these effects wear off quite quickly, and most patients can resume the rest of their daily activities as usual.
  • Oral Sedation. Oral sedation offers a deeper sense of relaxation and takes longer to wear off compared to Nitrous Oxide. Ahead of your appointment or upon arrival, your dentist will prescribe you with oral sedation (typically in pill form). This method takes about an hour to kick in, and patients will begin to feel drowsy or groggy. Oral sedatives are effective because they decrease activity in parts of the brain that control fear and anxiety, allowing you to remain conscious during your appointment without any added stress or fear. Your limbs may feel heavy or tingly.
    The side effects of oral sedation can take several hours to diminish. You will need to have a family member or friend drive you home, and we recommend patients on oral sedation do not attempt to return to work immediately or perform any physical activities until the side effects have worn off completely. Some patients may experience temporary nausea, drowsiness or headaches.
  • General/IV Sedation. IV sedation is a sedation technique administered by a certified medical anesthesiologist. This is the deepest form of sedation offered, commonly used for more invasive dental procedures and surgeries. However, for patients who experience extreme dental anxiety and would prefer to not be conscious during the appointment, it can be a safe and extremely effective solution to provide these patients with necessary dental care.
    IV sedation is administered with an IV and delivered directly to your bloodstream. Patients will experience a very minor “pinprick” feeling when the IV is administered, typically through a vein in the arm or hand. Within minutes, you will feel sleepy and remain unconscious until the procedure is complete. The dentist and anesthesiologist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels throughout the appointment. Once awake, you will feel relaxed but very drowsy. Other temporary side effects can include dry mouth, nausea, headache, and amnesia. You will not remember any of the appointments and may not remember much right before or after.
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Discover Your Options

If you’ve been avoiding booking your dental checkup or need to undergo a lengthy procedure like a crown placement or root canal, we’re here to help. We consider ourselves the dentist for nervous patients. It’s an extremely common fear and one we’re dedicated to easing with sedation and added comforts like cozy blankets, calming music, dim lighting and more.

Reach out to Midlothian Family Dentistry today to discover your sedation options to make your next appointment a calm and relaxing experience.

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