Sedation Dentistry – San Antonio, TX

Relax Enough to Get the Care You Need

girl receiving sedation dentistry in San Antonio Have you ever put off important dental work because of anxiety or fear? If you have, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that up to 20 percent of American adults have done the exact same thing. However, you no longer have to be scared of the dentist, thanks to Dr. Kadamani and her sedation dentistry in San Antonio. With a combination of local anesthetic and a special sedative, you can relax enough to get the care you need. As a result, you can look forward to a more comfortable and worry-free treatment. If you have found yourself putting off needed dental work due to anxiety, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide is commonly referred to by its nickname: laughing gas. The most mild form of sedation dentistry, it’s safe for patients of all ages and is effective at alleviating anxiety, stress, and nerves in the treatment chair. If you are interested in adding it to your treatment plan, then get in touch with us so we can determine if you’re a candidate. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more!

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Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

If you have ever skipped out on receiving important dental work due to fear or anxiety, then you’re exactly who nitrous oxide sedation was made for! Although sedation was originally designed to calm nervous patients, it can also be employed to solve other issues. For example, if you or your child are unable to sit still long enough in the dental chair, nitrous oxide can relax you enough to get your required dental work done.

It’s also worth considering nitrous oxide if you have sensitive teeth, you experience head/neck/jaw pain, or you have a touchy gag reflex. This calming solution can temporarily prevent you from feeling pain or discomfort, so you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Finally, sedation dentistry is perfect for patients who must undergo extensive dental work in one sitting. Keeping the mouth open for extended periods of time can get tiring, which is where nitrous oxide can help.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

Before your procedure begins, your sedation dentist will place a mask comfortably over your nose. You’ll begin breathing in the colorless, odorless gas and, within minutes, your anxiety will float away, allowing you to receive the important dental care you need. You’ll remain awake, which allows you to ask questions and respond to cues throughout your treatment. However, many patients feel so calm and comfortable that they doze off. If that happens, we’ll simply allow you to rest or gently wake you.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

Once your treatment is complete, we will let you know, remove the mask, and take you to the waiting room. One of the biggest perks of nitrous oxide is that the effects of the gas wear off fairly quickly. In fact, the effects typically wear off in a matter of minutes, allowing you to drive yourself to and from your appointment. In other words, the only aftercare instructions you need to abide by will be from the preventive, restorative, or cosmetic dental care you received!

Why You Shouldn’t Avoid the Dentist

woman with fear of the dentist Just because fear and anxiety surrounding dental visits are common, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. In fact, it can be severely detrimental to your oral and even your overall health. Problems that seem minor at first, like cavities and gingivitis, can quickly turn into larger issues, like oral infections that can spread, if you don’t seek treatment. While getting a simple filling for a cavity is not such a big deal, putting it off might mean that in the future you have to get a root canal or even a tooth extraction. That’s why you shouldn’t avoid seeing your dentist for treatment, especially if they offer sedation.

Sedation Dentistry FAQs

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Yes – the FDA considers sedation dentistry to be safe and effective. Nitrous oxide in particular is the safest dental sedation option for the most amount of people.

That said, there are certain situations where nitrous oxide might not be the best option. Patients with upper respiratory issues, for example, might experience complications with the gas. Nitrous oxide is also generally not recommended for women who are pregnant. Rest assured, your sedation dentist in San Antonio will thoroughly review your health history to make sure you’re safe during your treatment!

What are the aftereffects of sedation dentistry?

Children with sensitive stomachs may feel a little nauseous after their dental treatment with nitrous oxide sedation. The vast majority of patients, however, experience very little, if any, side effects. That’s part of the beauty of nitrous oxide – it acts quickly, leaves the system promptly, and doesn’t make patients feel groggy or drowsy for the rest of the day. In all likelihood, you’ll be able to go about your normal routine within minutes of completing your treatment.

Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?

Most of the time, no. Dental insurance plans typically label sedation as a “luxury,” and don’t offer coverage because it’s not strictly medically necessary. Now, if you do have a physical or mental disability that makes it extremely difficult to receive dental care without sedation, your plan may consider it necessary and cover at least part of the costs. You may also be eligible for sedation dentistry benefits if your treatment is more complex.

Our knowledgeable team will be sure to review your dental insurance benefits and let you know how much coverage you can expect.

Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?

No, nitrous oxide isn’t anything like a “truth serum”! True, you may feel light, floaty, or euphoric, but you likely won’t feel compelled to say anything you normally wouldn’t. Even if you do say something you’d rather be kept a secret, rest assured, we’ll keep that information in the confines of the treatment room! As health care providers, we take patient confidentiality very seriously and won’t divulge that sort of thing.

Nitrous oxide also won’t make you laugh like a hyena. Despite having the nickname of “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is very unlikely to result in big bursts of cackling. At most, you might giggle more easily than normal.