Dallas Sedation Dentist

Sedation options for stress-free dental care.

At White Dental Spa in Dallas, we know that many people suffer from dental phobia and apprehension when it comes to their oral healthcare appointments. Your health and comfort are our top priorities, and that’s why we offer sedation options to make sure your treatment is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

We offer oral conscious sedation as well as laughing gas to keep you calm and safe during your procedure. Oral conscious sedation comes in pill form, making it convenient and easy for you to take before your appointment. If this option is right for you, you’ll need to be driven to and from your appointment because the calming, euphoric effects may impair your ability to drive safely.

Alternatively, laughing gas wears off quickly and you’ll be able to drive yourself home after your treatment. Both sedative options give the patient a feeling of euphoria and relaxation during treatment. You’ll be awake during your procedure, but you’ll be comfortable and stress-free.

What Is Laughing Gas And How Does It Work?

Laughing gas is also called “minimal inhaled sedation,” because it is delivered through a nose mask and has minimal side effects. Unlike some deeper forms of sedation, you can stay completely conscious and alert throughout your procedure if you opt for sedation with laughing gas. You will feel euphoric, relaxed and calm, but you won’t feel sleepy or groggy, and you’ll be fully responsive. When used in combination with oral numbing agents, nitrous oxide can help eliminate any discomfort throughout your procedure.

This makes it ideal if you are a bit nervous about a dental procedure, but do not have severe dental anxiety. Since laughing gas wears off after only about 5 minutes, you can even drive yourself to and from your Dallas dentist office, which is not the case with other, deeper types of sedation.

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation And How Does It Work?

If you would like to be sedated more deeply during your dental procedure, oral conscious sedation may be right for you. This type of sedation consists of a strong sedative medication taken in a pill form about an hour before your appointment.

Oral conscious sedation is much stronger than sedation with laughing gas. You will start to feel very groggy and sleepy, and you won’t remember much about your appointment. It’s also quite common for patients to fall asleep during their treatment.

This makes oral sedation a better option if you have stronger feelings of dental anxiety, or are having a more invasive general dentistry procedure performed, such as multiple tooth extractions or the placement of a dental implant. However, oral conscious sedation lasts for several hours, so you cannot drive or operate heavy machinery after you’ve been sedated using this method.

Understanding Dental Anxiety And Dental Phobia

Not all types of dental anxiety are the same. One of the most common methods of ranking dental anxiety is called “Corah’s dental anxiety scale.” This scale, which uses a simple questionnaire and ranking system, recognizes four distinct types of dental anxiety:

• Little/no anxiety – Most patients fall into this category. Patients who have little or no anxiety may not enjoy going to the dentist, but do not have any fear of going to the dentist for routine cleanings and other simple treatments like fillings.
• Moderate dental anxiety – Moderate dental anxiety indicates that a patient may be uncomfortable even during normal, routine appointments like a cleaning. However, they still may be able to have these operations performed without sedation.
• High dental anxiety – Patients with high dental anxiety may feel nervous or uncomfortable before, during, and after an appointment at the dentist. They may also feel physically uncomfortable and scared, even during routine teeth cleaning. Patients with high dental anxiety may even avoid making dental appointments altogether.
• Dental phobia – Dental phobia is the most serious type of dental anxiety. Patients who suffer from a dental phobia may experience feelings of fear and trauma even when they just think about going to a dentist and they may require heavy sedation to receive even the most basic dental treatments. Cognitive-behavioral therapy from a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist may even be recommended to help treat the root cause of severe dental phobia.

To learn more about dental anxiety, schedule an appointment with Dr. Tung or Dr. Liu. They can help you feel more comfortable about receiving treatment and work with you to decide which type of sedation may be right for you. Our dental team currently serves Highland Park, Uptown, and surrounding cities in Dallas, Texas.