Sedation Dentist Falmouth
Saying Goodbye to Your Dental Anxiety
With extensive training in sedation dentistry, Dr. Hill continues to provide this beneficial service to her patients and has been doing so for the past decade! Recognizing the struggles many patients face when it’s time to seek professional oral healthcare, she and her team at Hill Dental Wellness are here to change that. With sedation dentistry in Falmouth, she can help individuals remain relaxed while receiving the essential services needed to ensure better oral health. Whether it’s a general checkup or same-day emergency dentistry that’s required, she can use sedation to create a more positive experience. She also happily takes sedation referrals from other general dentists to help patients in need, so don’t hesitate to call us today.
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Why Choose Hill Dental Wellness for Sedation Dentistry?
- Three Forms of Dental Sedation Available
- Dentist with Advanced Training in Sedation Dentistry
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments for Patients in Need
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is beneficial for patients who have anxiety about going to the dentist’s office. This is very common, and Dr. Hill takes pride in having a gentle approach when helping people overcome their fears with sedation. It’s also beneficial for people who would like to have all their dentistry completed at one appointment at one location. This allows for treatment that would usually require 4-5 appointments to be completed in a single visit.
There are different levels of sedation available, and Dr. Hill will start with a sedation consultation to determine what will be best for each patient based on their needs and expectations.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is achieved utilizing pills that are in the drug family called Benzodiazepines. Very commonly, people are familiar with the medication called Valium, which is in this family of drugs. They produce feelings of relaxation, sleepiness, and drowsiness. These medications can make a person’s memory foggy, so they do not remember much about their dental appointment.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is achieved utilizing an IV administration of a sedative directly to your bloodstream. This makes the onset of the medication’s effects very fast and well-controlled. It produces a profound state of relaxation. Dr. Hill has completed over 100 hours of continuing education to become qualified and licensed to perform IV sedation. She did her training in the DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) education program; only a few general dentists across the entire state have this level of permitting!
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is also known as “laughing gas.” You will breathe nitrous oxide in combination with oxygen through a special mask that fits over your nose. Nitrous oxide is a great anxiety reliever and will help you feel light and relaxed throughout the appointment. The wonderful thing about it is the effects of the gas wear off quickly once the mask is removed, meaning there is no “hangover” effect. A person can even drive home after the treatment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Some patients with dental anxiety also worry that sedation options might harm their general health, but thankfully, that’s usually not the case. This service is considered safe for most people when administered by a qualified professional, like one of our Hill Dental Wellness providers.
However, that doesn’t mean this service is ideal for everyone. Before proceeding, our team will discuss your concerns regarding your appointment or procedure and update your medical history, including listing any prescription medications or supplements you take regularly, to avoid doing anything that might harm your overall well-being.
What Does Dental Sedation Feel Like?
Your response might be slightly different based on your unique biology, but most people experience similar effects from the various types of dental sedation. For example, nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, typically induces a lightweight, tingling sensation, and you might even feel euphoric or catch a case of the giggles, which is likely how it earned its nickname.
Oral conscious medication in pill form typically results in a deeper sense of calm and relaxation. It’s not intended to ‘knock you out’, but you might feel so relaxed that you doze off during your procedure. Meanwhile, IV sedation generally produces the strongest effects, and it can take several hours to leave your system, so we might recommend having someone drive you home after your visit.
Will I Remember Anything After Sedation?
Although nitrous oxide and oral conscious dental sedation are intended to help you feel comfortable while remaining aware enough to respond to questions and directions, there’s a fair chance you won’t be able to recall the details of your appointment after the fact. That’s because these medications sometimes produce a temporary memory-loss effect, which many anxious patients consider to be just another benefit of this popular service.
Meanwhile, IV sedation does put you to sleep, so you’re very unlikely to recall your procedure once it's completed.
What are the Potential Risks of Dental Sedation?
Undergoing dental sedation may pose certain risks, especially to patients with certain pre-existing conditions or who take specific prescription medications. For instance, if you have sleep apnea, bronchitis, or other conditions that affect your breathing, sedation might interfere with your body’s ability to maintain appropriate oxygen levels. Also, if you’re pregnant in the first trimester, our team might recommend postponing your procedure to the last trimester or until after delivery to keep it from potentially affecting the baby.
Some other more common potential complications might include headache, grogginess, or nausea and vomiting, though this is rare with nitrous oxide (laughing gas).