Sedation Dentistry – Kittanning, PA
Relax During
Your Next Dental Visit
Are you anxious whenever the time comes to visit the dentist? Have you missed critical appointments out of fear? With sedation dentistry in our Kittanning, PA dental office, you can let your worries go and look forward to a relaxing experience during your next visit to Voller Dentistry, PC. We’ve worked with many anxious patients over the years, so we know what it takes to help people feel at ease and overcome any phobias they might have about dental care. Give us a call today to learn more about how sedation dentistry can help you!
Why Choose Voller Dentistry, PC For Sedation Dentistry?
- #1 Gentle Nitrous Oxide for Patients of All Ages
- #2 Oral Conscious Sedation for Powerful Relaxation
- #3 Friendly, Understanding Dental Team Focused On Your Comfort
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
There’s a good chance that you know nitrous oxide by another name: laughing gas. This mild form of sedation is safe for patients of all ages, effective, and doesn’t result in lingering grogginess throughout the day. Sound like the calming solution you’ve been looking for? Then contact our dental team near Kittanning with any questions you have or to schedule an appointment!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide is well-known for alleviating anxiety, which is why it’s popular among patients who struggle with nerves and stress surrounding essential dental care. Of course, that’s just one of its many uses. This calming form of dental sedation is also great for patients who have a sensitive gag reflex, who struggle with head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair, or who need extensive restorative or emergency care. In short, if you think nitrous oxide would give you the calm and positive experience you deserve, don’t hesitate to ask our team if it’s an option for you!
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is administered once you arrive at our office and settle comfortably into the treatment chair. At this point, we will place a small mask comfortably over your nose and instruct you to breathe normally. After about a minute, the gas will take effect, resulting in a warm, relaxing sensation. Patients often say it feels like they are floating, at-ease, and, of course, anxiety-free. Throughout your appointment, we will check in with you to make sure you’re doing okay and, if necessary, adjust the flow of nitrous oxide.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once we’re done, we will let you know and switch off the nitrous. Within a few minutes, the effects will wear off completely. That’s one of the many reasons this form of sedation is so loved: there isn’t any lasting grogginess or drowsiness. Instead, you can drive yourself home from your appointment and resume your usual routine!
Note: We will provide you with aftercare instructions if you come to our office for restorative care, like rinsing periodically with warm saltwater or waiting to eat until the numbing agent has completely worn off. As always, you can get in touch with us if you have any questions – no matter how small they may seem.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If a patient experiences a lot of anxiety when visiting the dentist or needs to undergo invasive procedures, Dr. Voller may choose to use oral conscious sedation. For this, he will prescribe them medication to take on the day of their procedure, most likely in pill form. On the day of their visit, the patient will take the medication at home so that by the time they reach the dental office, they will be completely relaxed mentally and physically. They will still be conscious and able to follow the doctor’s instructions, but they will not feel any pain and time will fly by quickly.
How Oral Conscious Sedation Works
If you are interested in discovering if oral sedation is right for you, Dr. Voller will meet with you and discuss your candidacy based on your medical history and current medications. If you’re a good fit for oral sedation, he will select an appropriate anti-anxiety or sedative drug for you to take at a pre-determined time before your appointment. These safe, widely prescribed drugs diminish anxiety and help patients relax.
Your anxiety level will help Dr. Voller determine the dosage, which in turn determines your consciousness level during the appointment. Some patients become so relaxed they drift off into a restful sleep during their dental procedures. Throughout your appointment, we will closely monitor your vital signs to ensure your safety. When you choose oral sedation, you must have a responsible adult who can drive you to and from your appointment and spend some time with you after the appointment until the sedative wears off completely.
The Benefits of Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation offers many benefits for patients who experience emotional or physical discomfort while sitting in the examination chair. This form of sedation is more powerful than nitrous oxide sedation, helping patients achieve a deep state of relaxation. No needles or masks are needed since the medication is taken by mouth, making it arguably the easiest form of sedation to benefit from. Furthermore, the sedation is taken at home before the appointment, so you will likely feel very relaxed and content by the time you reach our office.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
Visiting the dentist can cause some people severe anxiety and stress. Other patients experience discomfort in their back, neck, or jaw while in the dental chair. Because of this, many patients often forego necessary dental care. Unfortunately, this can cascade into further oral health problems, which in turn can require more extensive dental care. If you find yourself feeling panicky at the thought of having your teeth worked on, you should know that a safe, comfortable relaxation method exists. Sedation dentistry is often a great choice for those who:
- Experience anxiety or fear when faced with dental instruments or environments
- Put off or cancel important dental treatment because of anxiety
- Have an overactive gag reflex or very sensitive teeth
- Have trouble feeling numb after receiving local anesthetic
- Cannot rest comfortably in a dentist’s exam chair due to neck or back problems
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Generally, if you’re receiving it from a licensed professional, sedation dentistry is considered safe for most people. Nitrous oxide is often considered the safest for the most amount of people because the medication doesn’t typically cause adverse effects, and it wears off within minutes.
Before proceeding with any medication, our team will update your medical history and list of prescriptions so that we can safely administer sedation without interfering with your general health. We’ll also closely monitor you the entire time you’re sedated to ensure that your vitals (blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels) all stay within normal ranges.
What Does It Feel Like to Be Sedated at the Dentist?
It’s natural to hesitate with sedation dentistry if you’re unsure what to expect. Many patients balk at the thought of being unconscious during their procedure, but that’s not usually how it works. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is inhaled through a mask on your nose and induces a light, relaxed, euphoric sensation. You might feel slight tingling in your limbs, get the giggle, or feel drowsy but you’ll remain conscious enough to respond to Dr. Voller’s questions or instructions.
Oral conscious sedation that’s swallowed as a pill induces a deeper sense of calm, and you might struggle to speak clearly or keep your eyes open. You might feel a weighed-down sensation, and time may seem to pass faster.
Will I Remember Anything with Dental Sedation?
Technically, your body is conscious when under dental sedation, though there’s a good chance you might not remember much of your procedure. That said, you might remember more of the detail if you’ve inhaled laughing gas than if you’ve been prescribed a pill.
Though you might feel unsettled at the idea of not remembering every moment of your appointment, many patients with dental anxiety rely on this ‘memory loss’ effect to help them get through the necessary procedures.
What are the Risks of Sedation Dentistry?
Although sedation dentistry is usually considered safe for most people, there are certain circumstances in which it could pose risks. For instance, if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or are on certain prescription drugs, the sedative is more likely to cause adverse effects. Also, if you’re pregnant, we might recommend postponing your visit until the third trimester or after delivery to avoid passing anything to the baby through the placenta.
Also, you might notice mild symptoms as the sedatives wear off, like headaches, nausea, and grogginess, but these typically resolve within a few hours.