Sedation Dentistry – San Antonio, TX

Who Should Consider Sedation Dentistry?

You may want to consider sedation if:

• You are fearful or anxious of dental treatment and dental instruments
• You have extensive dental needs that will require longer appointments
• You experience difficulty feeling numb using local anesthesia
• You have a sensitive gag reflex
• You suffer from any health issues, such as neck or back pain, which could lead to discomfort while sitting in a dentist's chair

IV Dental Sedation

IV sedation is our most potent option, in which the sedative is administered directly into the bloodstream via an injection in the hand or arm. We typically recommend this approach for patients who have extreme dental fear or need to undergo a complicated procedure. It can also be tremendously helpful for those who want to save time by having multiple procedures completed in a single appointment.

Before we use IV sedation with a patient, we’ll first ask about their medical history and any current medications they are taking. This is to ensure they remain safe throughout the procedure. Once someone has been approved, we’ll schedule their appointment in the near future, which allows time for the patient to arrange a ride to and from our dental office, as they will be too drowsy afterward to travel on their own.

One of the best parts about IV sedation is that it is incredibly fast-acting. A patient becomes deeply relaxed almost instantly. Even better, it doesn’t completely knock someone out, so they can still communicate with our team throughout their treatment. This enables us to adjust someone’s sedation level in real-time to make sure they are as comfortable as possible.

Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation

Nitrous oxide sedation has been used for over 100 years to soothe nervous dental patients, and the reason it’s still popular today is simple: it works! It’s so gentle that we can even use it with young children, but it’s still a viable option for adults who need just a little help getting through their dental appointments. The odorless gas is inhaled through a small nasal mask throughout the procedure, and it causes a patient to experience feelings of warmth, happiness, and calm. Once the visit is over and the mask is removed, the effects wear off within minutes, meaning a patient can get right back to their day without interruption.

Learn More About Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Oral Conscious Dental Sedation

If you could take a pill that would make all of your dental nerves disappear, would you do it? If you’re like a lot of our patients, the answer is a resounding “YES!” Fortunately, this is basically how oral conscious sedation works! We’ll give you a medication to take at home on the day of your visit, and when you arrive at our dental office, you should already be sedated by the time you reach the chair. You’ll remain awake and responsive, but time will seem to flow by quickly, and the visit will be over before you know it. Because of the potency of oral conscious sedation, it is required that you have a friend or family member drive you to and from our dental office on the day of your appointment.

Benefits of Sedation

Sedation dentistry offers a litany of benefits beyond helping patients feel more comfortable in the treatment chair, and one of our doctors goes over some of the lesser-known ones so you can decide whether or not sedation is right for you.

Types of Sedation

Dr. Gonzalez provides a brief but information-packed summary of the various types of sedation we offer at New Image Dentistry. To learn more about each type, simply read this page, or be sure to give us a call if you have any questions!