Dental Sedation in The Woodlands, TX

Sedation Can Help You Relax

Many people avoid going to the dentist because they experienced traumatic care as a child, suffered painful procedures as an adult, or are influenced by the stereotypes they see on TV and movies.  Even when they experience warning signs like mouth pain, many people avoid seeking treatment because of fear and anxiety.

At our The Woodlands office, we understand these feelings and want to help. Whether you just need a routine cleaning or a brand new smile, we offer sedation dentistry to make your experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Sedation Dentistry is a Path Free From Fear

Sedation dentistry is used by many dentists to provide a relaxing, calming experience for patients who are afraid of going to the dentist and/or having dental procedures performed. There are many forms of sedation that can be administered in a variety of ways such as intravenous (IV) sedation, oral sedation, or nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

This variety of sedation methods offers dentists the flexibility of three levels of sedation – minimal, moderate, and deep – depending on the level of anxiety the patient experiences. Dr. Bradshaw provides mild to moderate sedation including IV sedation.

Which Type of Sedation is Best for You?

Minimal sedation relieves the anxiety patients feel before and during their dental exam.  However, minimal sedation allows patients to respond verbally and physically to the dentist’s directions. The patient will be awake but calm and may remember parts of the experience after the procedure is completed.

Moderate, or conscious, sedation relaxes the patient even more, but the patient will only be able to respond to a larger stimulus in his environment. The patient will likely slur their words and most likely not remember anything about the procedure. While most people do well with mild to moderate sedation, few individuals require deep sedation.

Deep sedation requires the addition of a Dental Anesthesiologist and is reserved for those with a deep-seated fear and aversion to the dentist’s office. Deep sedation puts the patient on the edge of consciousness but he/she can still be awakened. When a patient is put under deep sedation, he does not usually show any signs of comprehension or recognition to anything that is occurring. The patient will not remember anything about the experience.

We Can Relieve Your Fear

Oral Sedation

Our office offers oral sedation dentistry. Oral sedation allows us to relieve anxiety without the use of needles or intravenous tubes. Patients who traditionally have trouble getting numb have no problem when sedated and relaxed.

About two hours prior to the appointment, the patient will be asked to take one to two small pills that will make them drowsy. By the time a companion accompanies the patient to our office for the appointment, the patient will be feeling relaxed and calm.  We will escort them to a comfortable room and cover the patient with a warm, thick blanket.

Once the patient is comfortable and completely relaxed, the doctor and experienced clinical team will complete the dental procedure. During the entire procedure, the patient’s vital signs will be monitored to ensure their health and safety. After the treatment is completed, a companion will take the patient home to rest and sleep for a couple of hours after the appointment.

Intravenous (IV) Conscious Sedation

IV conscious sedation is an effective technique for managing moderate to severe dental anxiety. While not as readily available in most dental offices, we believe it is a valuable tool for ensuring a patient’s complete relaxation during a procedure they would not ordinarily have had done due to extreme fear.

Prior to the procedure, drugs are administered intravenously. Drugs administered by IV are far more effective than those taken orally because the doctor can control exactly how much is administered directly into the bloodstream.

During the procedure, monitoring devices are placed on the patient to monitor their heart rate, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and breathing. The patient will be in a “twilight sleep” or semi awake through the whole procedure, allowing the dentist to give them directions, which they will be able to follow. However, the medications administered during IV conscious sedation often leaves the patient with amnesia of the procedure. The patient will remember little if anything about their experience!

In order to provide IV conscious sedation dentistry, specialized advanced training and certification by the state Board of Dental Examiners was required and completed.

Local Anesthetic

For most dental procedures, your dentist will need to numb parts of your mouth. In order to do so, medicine is injected into your gum or inner cheek. This medicine is called a local anesthetic.

Lidocaine is the most common local anesthetic used in dentistry, however, there are many others. All types of numbing drugs are combined with other medications to make the numbing last longer. Numbing usually lasts several hours but wears off over time.

Numbing just the area where dentistry needs to be performed allows the dentist to perform procedures without pain or discomfort. Because you are still conscious, you can answer prompts and commands quickly and easily. And, because you have not been sedated, you can usually drive yourself home or go back to work immediately after the appointment.

Interested in Sedation Dentistry? You May be a Candidate!

Candidates for sedation dentistry include patients who have:

  • High fear
  • Had traumatic dental experiences
  • Difficulty getting numb
  • A bad gag reflex
  • Very sensitive teeth
  • Limited time to complete their dental care
  • Complex dental problems
  • A fear of needles and shots
  • An aversion to the noises, smells, and tastes associated with dental care
  • Fear or embarrassment about their teeth
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