What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?

The main benefit of sedation dentistry is simple: it lets you get the dental care you need while feeling calm and relaxed, instead of putting treatment off because of fear. Being relaxed also tends to make for a quicker procedure and a speedier recovery, and some sedation medications reduce your memory of the procedure. At the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS, sedation options include complimentary laughing gas, oral conscious sedation and IV sedation.

This guide covers what sedation dentistry is, the benefits it offers, the dental sedation options available at the practice, what to plan for afterward, and how to decide which option suits you. For the service overview, see sedation dentistry in Timonium.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you feel calm during dental procedures. It is not the same as the local anesthetic that numbs a tooth: sedation works on how you feel, so the stress and anxiety of the visit ease while the dental work is done.

With laughing gas and with oral conscious sedation, you stay conscious during treatment. You can still respond to Dr. Haywood and the team; you simply feel calm instead of tense. IV sedation provides deep conscious sedation for lengthier or more complex treatment. Which level of sedation makes sense depends on your needs and on the dental treatment you are having.

The benefits of sedation dentistry

Anxiety stops being the reason you avoid care

Many people put off dental visits for years because the thought of the chair is worse than the problem they are living with. A small cavity becomes a larger one, and a treatment that could have been simple becomes extensive dental work later. Sedation is used to help patients with nerves or anxiety feel calm and relaxed, so the appointment you have been avoiding becomes one you can actually keep.

A calmer, quicker procedure and a speedier recovery

When you are relaxed, the dental procedure itself tends to go more smoothly. A patient who is tense in the chair makes treatment harder for everyone, including themselves. Being relaxed makes for a quicker procedure and a speedier recovery.

Longer or more complex treatment becomes manageable

Some treatment simply takes time. For lengthier or more complex dental work, IV sedation provides deep conscious sedation, and the practice works with local anesthesiologists when needed. For patients who could not face a long appointment, that can be the difference between completing treatment and never starting it.

Less memory of the procedure

The medications used for sedation during surgery help reduce your memory of the procedure. For someone whose anxiety is fed by memories of past dental visits, that matters.

Help with a sensitive gag reflex or a hard time sitting still

Some people find it hard to keep their mouth open or stay still for long periods, or have a strong gag reflex. Feeling calm and relaxed can make it easier to get through dental visits that would otherwise be a struggle.

An option that fits your day

Sedation is not one-size-fits-all. If you want to drive yourself home, laughing gas may appeal. If you need more help relaxing, oral conscious sedation or IV sedation may suit you better. Having more than one option means your sedation can be matched to you and to your treatment.

Sedation options at the Timonium practice

Laughing gas (nitrous oxide)

Laughing gas is offered as a complimentary service: just let the team know you would like it. It flows steadily through a comfortable nasal mask and is adjusted as needed throughout treatment. Within seconds it eases anxious feelings. It tends to make you feel somewhat giddy and euphoric, but not “out of it.” Laughing gas is a safe and effective form of sedation dentistry for patients of all ages, and immediately after treatment you should feel fully alert and able to drive yourself home.

Oral conscious sedation

With oral sedation, you take a pill the morning of treatment, usually about an hour before your appointment. The sedative slows the central nervous system enough to bring on calm, relaxed feelings while you remain conscious. Oral sedatives stay in your system for several hours, so you need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Oral sedatives have been used at the practice with great success, and you can ask about the practice’s “sedation for life” program.

IV sedation

IV sedation, given intravenously, provides deep conscious sedation for lengthier or more complex treatment. The practice works with local anesthesiologists when needed.

Laughing gas, oral sedation or IV sedation: how they compare

• Laughing gas: breathed through a nasal mask, works within seconds, adjusted throughout, complimentary, and you can drive yourself home.
• Oral conscious sedation: a pill taken about an hour before your visit, lasts several hours, and you need a ride.
• IV sedation: deep conscious sedation for lengthier or more complex treatment, with local anesthesiologists when needed.

Downsides and what to plan for

Sedation has practical trade-offs worth planning around. The main one is time: the effects of oral sedatives and of sedation for surgery may stay with you for several hours. Arrange a ride to and from your appointment, and don’t drive or operate machinery until the effects have worn off. Plan to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Share your full health history and the medications you take before any sedation, and follow the post-op instructions for your specific treatment. If you would rather not arrange a ride at all, laughing gas is the option that lets you drive yourself home.

Other comforts that help anxious patients

Sedation works best as part of a calm visit overall. The Timonium office is spa-like and built to be anxiety-free, with paraffin wax hand treatments, aromatherapy and a Nespresso station. Air abrasion can remove small areas of decay quickly and quietly, with no heat, pressure or vibration, and the iTero Element scanner creates a 3D image of your teeth in about 2½ minutes, with less tendency toward gagging. See the practice’s dental technology and read more about comfortable dental care for anxious patients.

Who might benefit from sedation dentistry?

• People who feel nervous or anxious about dental visits
• People who have put off treatment for years because of fear
• Patients facing lengthier or more complex dental work
• People with a sensitive gag reflex or who find it hard to sit still
• Anyone who wants a stress-free dental experience, from a routine visit to a larger procedure

The best way to know which option fits you is a relaxed, no-pressure consultation. Tell the team what makes dental visits hard for you, and together you can choose the form of sedation that suits your needs and your treatment.

Paying for your care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome. Financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry

Are you completely asleep during sedation dentistry?

No. With laughing gas and with oral conscious sedation you stay conscious during treatment, just without the stress or anxiety, and you can still respond to Dr. Haywood and the team.

Does laughing gas cost extra?

No. Laughing gas is offered at the practice as a complimentary service. Just let the team know you would like it.

Can I drive myself home after sedation?

After laughing gas, yes: you should feel fully alert right after treatment. After oral sedation, no: the sedative stays in your system for several hours, so someone needs to drive you.

Is sedation safe for children?

Laughing gas is a safe and effective form of sedation dentistry for patients of all ages, and the flow is adjusted as needed throughout treatment. A parent or legal guardian must be present during the consultation of a patient under 18.

Which type of sedation is right for me?

It depends on your needs and your treatment. Talk it through at a no-pressure consultation and choose the option that fits you.

Ask about sedation dentistry in Timonium

If anxiety has kept you from the dentist, sedation can help you get the care you need calmly. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399 to talk through your options. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, and Dr. Haywood has over 35 years of experience helping patients feel comfortable in the chair.