Relax During Your Dental Treatment With Oral Sedation Dentistry in Fort Worth

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, dental anxiety is common as 40 million Americans experience it. Dental phobia keeps you from going to the dentist and getting the procedures you need to keep your mouth healthy. Sedation dentistry uses medication to sedate you during your dentist visit. This puts you in a relaxed mood, so you can get your dental work done without the stress and fear. 

How Your Appointment With Oral Sedation Works

Oral sedation dentistry in Fort worth involves a pill that you take before treatment. Much like with N2O, you are awake, but you are not aware of the dental procedure, making your visit without fear or stress. If you choose oral sedation, you must have someone to drive you home as oral sedation does not wear off quickly. However, by the evening of your appointment, the oral sedation should be worn off, letting you return to normal activities.

Book Your Appointment With Oral Sedation

Contact Texas Implant and Dental Center to learn more or to schedule an appointment with oral sedation. We look forward to giving you a relaxed and comfortable dental visit!

Laughing Gas Sedation Dentistry in Fort Worth

The most common form of sedation in the world of dentistry is with “Laughing Gas” gas. This anesthetic drug, which is used in roughly a third of all dental procedures in the United States, has proven safe and effective. 

How Your Appointment With Laughing Gas Works

Patients who want to use the gas should avoid eating anything during the two hours before sedation. Because the gas is administered via a mask and simply inhaled, it is an attractive option for patients who want to avoid an IV or general anesthetic.

With laughing gas sedation in Fort Worth, it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to four minutes of breathing for the effects of the gas to start setting in. The patient will feel a pleasant level of sedation, and in some cases, the cheeks and gums will start to go numb. This numbing effect is perfectly safe and occurs in roughly one out of every three patients. Once the appropriate amount of gas is administered to the patient, the dentist can proceed.

Once the procedure is complete, we switch patients to full oxygen. Generally, this reverses the sedative’s effects almost immediately. We will keep you on oxygen for five minutes, often allowing patients to leave without an escort and drive themselves home. Such rapid recovery isn’t available with general anesthesia or IV sedation.

One of the most valuable effects of laughing gas is its calming factor. Any fear or anxiety over the procedure is usually overpowered by the gas’s relaxing effects, making it especially good for young children who are afraid of the dentist. In most cases, if you are nervous about your appointment, you can specifically ask for laughing gas to help ease your anxiety and make you more comfortable with the procedure.

Book Your Appointment With Laughing Gas Sedation in Fort Worth

Contact Texas Implant and Dental Center to learn more or to schedule an appointment with laughing gas sedation. We look forward to giving you a relaxed and comfortable dental visit!

Ultimate Relaxation During Your Visit to the Dentist’s Office With IV Sedation Dentistry in Fort Worth

IV sedation is a highly effective, highly controllable form of sedation used in dentistry treatments. Dr. Clark Damon at Texas Implant and Dental Center can administer IV sedation personally at our Dallas and Fort Worth offices. This unique offering saves our patients time and money. This medication is excellent for sufferers of dental phobia or fear or those patients undergoing a complicated or lengthy surgical treatment.

Compared to oral sedation, IV sedation dentistry in Fort Worth is more predictable. It can be administered in a precise dosage appropriate for each patient’s weight, age, size, and other health specifics. IV medication is administered directly to the bloodstream for fast, effective results. 

Dr. Damon carefully titrates the liquid medication, releasing the exact amount needed to relax patients to the point of being unaware of their procedure in a near-sleep state.

How Does IV Sedation Affect Patients?

Patients usually remember little or nothing about the procedures performed during their sedated state. Most patients feel as though they were asleep. This is partly because most people become deeply relaxed in response to IV sedation, but it’s also because memory loss is a side effect during sedation (these effects do not continue after the IV ceases to be administered). Although patients may feel that they were unconscious during treatment, they are still able to respond to requests from our staff during the procedure.

How Do You Administer IV Sedation?

IV sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream via a narrow plastic tube. The tube is inserted in an easily accessible vein close to the skin on the back of the hand or in the bend of your arm. During the procedure, the tube will stay in place as the drug is administered according to your individual needs. The process of placing the IV is easy under the care of our practiced team. 

Because IV sedation does not numb the site at which Dr. Damon is working in a patient’s mouth, they will usually also be given a local anesthesia or injection. This is done after the patient receives IV sedation and is already fully sedated.

During Your Procedure

Our team will track your oxygen levels and pulse using a pulse oximeter that clips onto your finger during your dental procedure. We also monitor respiration, blood pressure, and end-tidal CO2. 

A patient may feel groggy and will likely seem a little disoriented for a few minutes. While the patient recovers, their blood pressure levels will be monitored at five-minute intervals to ensure safety. Patients should plan on having a ride home from their outpatient procedures, as operating a vehicle is not recommended for 24 hours. 

Choosing IV Sedation Dentistry in Fort Worth

If you have any more questions about IV sedation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team. We look forward to making your dental experience one of comfort and relaxation. Call us today to schedule your appointment.