Does the thought of visiting the dentist make you anxious? Has it been years since your last dental visit? We can help. Our friendly office staff, hygienists, and dentist, Dr. Rachel Barone, aim to create a positive experience for anxious patients.
Sedation dentistry is a treatment we offer at Gunbarrel Dental Center in Boulder, CO, to help patients with dental fear and anxiety. Dental sedation is a general dentistry service that can help patients maintain their smiles and prevent common oral health problems like cavities and gum disease.
Sedation Dentistry in Boulder, CO
When we do procedures like dental feelings, we use a local anesthetic. It reduces and prevents pain for patients to receive the care they need. Often, we use the local anesthetic alongside dental sedation for more intensive procedures. Our top priority is guaranteeing your comfort. Our office offers multiple different types of sedation, too.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, calms patients. This gas is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a mask that we place over the nose and mouth. It’s the most accessible type of sedation. It takes effect and dissipates quickly, within a few breaths. Laughing gas is the only sedation type where patients can still drive themselves to and from their appointments.
You feel relaxed and euphoric throughout your procedure, yet you’re still aware of everything that’s happening. The dentist can ask you questions, and you can answer them during nitrous oxide sedation. This solution is popular for parents seeking sedation for their children, as they don’t need to take medicine or get an IV to use it.
Oral Conscious Sedation
This solution provides a deeper sedation effect than nitrous oxide. We administer it by prescribing a pill for you to take before you come into the office. Typically, you’ll take it about an hour before your appointment to give it time to take effect. Oral conscious sedation can last several hours, so you’ll need a trusted ride to and from your appointment.
While this medication doesn’t put you to sleep, you may feel relaxed enough to fall asleep during your procedure. It can also produce an amnesia effect where you don’t remember parts or all of your procedure.
IV Sedation
Dr. Barone is partnered with a local Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to provide IV or intravenous sedation. This type of sedation delivers anti-anxiety medication through the bloodstream. Patients with more severe dental anxiety benefit from IV sedation.
We measure the patient’s blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate throughout every type of sedation. Patients may also fall asleep under nitrous oxide or IV sedation, and we will gently wake them up once the effects of the sedation wear off. You usually don’t remember your procedure when you have this option. It’s the deepest form of sedation we offer.
Who Benefits From Sedation Dentistry?
Dental sedation is mainly for patients who have dental anxiety. A fear of the dentist occurs on the spectrum. Some patients are only triggered by certain sounds, like that of a drill, while others have such a debilitating fear that they can’t even enter the dentist office. Sedation allows these patients to get the regular dental care they need to keep their mouth healthy.
Patients who cannot come into the office for their regular care are more likely to suffer from severe dental issues. They may go years without proper dental care. Sedation is also ideal for patients who need to undergo multiple or intensive procedures. It’s hard for patients to remain relaxed in the dental chair for hours. We recommend sedation for multiple procedures, even for patients without dental fear.
Sedation is also ideal for children or patients who have movement disorders. Dental work is very precise and requires the dentist to utilize sharp tools. If the patient makes involuntary movements, it is harder for the dentist to work, putting the soft tissue in your mouth at risk. A dental tool can hit the wrong spot in your mouth. Sedation relaxes these involuntary movements, allowing the patient to sit still.
This is true for patients who have a bad gag reflex, too. A gag reflex fights the dentist as they’re trying to work in the mouth. It makes care extremely uncomfortable for the patient. Sedation can relax the gag reflex so that it isn’t as intense while they’re trying to treat you.
In general, sedation just makes it easier for the dentist to work. You sit still, and they can do the work more quickly and efficiently. They can get more done, and you don’t have to come into the office as often. It’s safer for the patient and ensures they’re more comfortable.
Contact Us Today
Call Gunbarrel Dental Center for dental sedation today at 720-881-0614. You can also request a dental appointment on our website. Please let our team know if you have any questions about sedation; they can help!