Sedation Dentistry – Estero, FL

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

At Smile Rejuvenations, we do our best to create a calming and welcoming atmosphere at our dental office. However, we know that’s simply not enough for some of our patients! If you have dental anxiety or are physically uncomfortable in the dental chair, we offer IV sedation in our Estero, FL dental office to help make caring for your smile as pleasant as possible. Here we have the ability to maintain a patient at the optimal level for sedation for the entire procedure and then bring them out immediately while rehydrating them directly. These safe and reliable methods use anti-anxiety medication to put you in a state of relaxation so you can breeze through your appointment without soreness or fear.

What Is Oral Conscious Dental Sedation?

Oral conscious dental sedation is a lighter and gentler form of IV dental sedation. It’s administered via a prescribed medication that you’ll take by mouth before your appointment, usually either a pill or a liquid. Unlike IV dental sedation, you’ll begin to feel relaxed before you even reach our office. This is why you’ll need a friend or family member to drive you to your appointment. You can also typically expect the groggy feeling to last for several hours after your appointment, so you’ll also need someone to drive you home afterwards.

How Does Oral Conscious Dental Sedation Work?

This form of sedation dentistry is administered through a small anti-anxiety pill prescribed by one of our knowledgeable dentists. You’ll take the medicine before your appointment, and you should feel very relaxed by the time you’re seated in the dental chair. While you may feel groggy and may not remember much of your appointment afterward, oral conscious sedation does not put you to sleep. You’ll be awake enough to respond to our basic instructions and questions the whole time, though you’ll feel extremely relaxed. Oral conscious sedation also provides an amnesiac effect, so your memories of your treatment will be fuzzy, if you remember anything about it at all.

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Dental Sedation?

Many patients qualify as good candidates for this type of dental sedation, including those who:

• Are very nervous of going to the dentist’s office
• Are planning on having a lot of work completed at one time
• Are planning on undergoing a more complex treatment
• Have a very sensitive or overactive gag reflex
• Suffer from jaw, neck, shoulder, or back pain that makes sitting in the dental examination chair for long periods of time uncomfortable.

That being said, not everyone is a good candidate for this type of sedation dentistry. That’s why we’ll first need to see you for a consultation. We’ll discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and review your medical history and current health. If you have certain medical conditions or are taking specific medications, then we may recommend a different way to help you relax during your appointment.

However, the only true way to know for sure if oral conscious dental sedation is right for you is to come see us for a consultation. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment!

Is Sedation Dentistry Right for Me?

Thanks to our highly experienced and trained dentists, sedation dentistry is a safe and effective choice for practically any patient. We typically do not recommend dental sedation for patients who are pregnant, very young, advanced in years, have a respiratory illness, or suffer from certain medical conditions. However, the majority of patients are considered good candidates for these calming services.

The only way to know for sure if you’re a good candidate for sedation dentistry is to come visit us for a consultation. We’ll discuss your concerns and review your medical history to determine which dental sedation option would be most effective for you. If you’re interested in seeing if dental sedation is the key to making your oral healthcare more relaxing and comfortable, don’t hesitate to give us a call today!

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

When administered by an experienced dentist like any of our doctors here at Smile Rejuvenations of Southwest Florida, sedation dentistry is incredibly safe. When undergoing oral conscious sedation, you’ll take a precise dose of medication that will help you safely achieve a deep level of relaxation. IV dental sedation is delivered in real time via a small needle, meaning we can adjust your level of sedation at any time if needed. For either type of sedation, we’ll thoroughly review your medical history beforehand to ensure sedation dentistry is a safe and effective choice for you.

Which Type of Dental Sedation Is Best?

The type of dental sedation that will be best for you will depend on numerous factors. After all, not every type of sedation dentistry is a good choice for each patient! Your current health, the length of your treatment, and your medical history will all play a part in informing us as to which option might be the best one for you.

What Does Sedation Dentistry Feel Like?

Using sedation dentistry will feel slightly different for everyone, but most patients report feelings of grogginess. Some feel as if their limbs have gotten heavier, or that time is passing by faster than normal. Many patients feel as if they have fallen asleep since they retain few to no memories of their appointment afterwards. Overall, you will feel very relaxed, calm, and comfortable with sedation dentistry. It’s important to note that you will continue to feel groggy well after your appointment, so you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home, where you should plan on resting for the remainder of the day.

Does Dental Sedation Put You to Sleep?

Even though many patients will feel as though they’ve slept through their appointments with sedation dentistry, in reality you will remain conscious the entire time. You will be able to respond to basic questions and instructions from our dental team, but you’ll feel as if you’re in a dream-like state. Some patients feel so relaxed that they nod off during their treatment, but our team will be able to awaken you with a gentle nudge if needed. This makes sedation dentistry a far safer choice than general anesthesia. Since oral conscious sedation and IV sedation have amnesiac side-effects, it’s not unusual to have no memories of your appointment once the sedation wears off. You’ll be able to enjoy all of the benefits of being asleep throughout your treatment with far less risk!

Will I Feel Any Pain with Sedation Dentistry?

While sedation dentistry is not designed to have any pain-suppression capabilities, it does change how the brain perceives discomfort. You simply won’t be aware of the sights, sounds, and other sensations that would typically cause you emotional or physical distress. However, to ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout your appointment, we will also use a local anesthetic to thoroughly numb the area of your mouth we will be working on.