Sedation Dentist Matthews
Feel Relaxed in the Dental Office
One common reason why patients put off important dental appointments, like routine checkups and time-sensitive root canals is because they’re scared of visiting the dentist. This fear can emerge from a variety of reasons, including bad past experiences, anxiety, and overstimulation caused by the sights, sounds, and smells of the office. Our warm and welcoming team will help you feel right at home and do our best to put your nerves to rest, but if that’s not enough, we also offer sedation dentistry in Matthews.
Why Choose More Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- Small, Friendly & Experienced Dental Team
- Comprehensive Family Dentistry
- We Welcome Spanish-Speaking Patients
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
For decades now, nitrous oxide has been used to help patients have the calm, positive, and comfortable experience they deserve while caring for their smiles. If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of it before, it’s likely because you’ve heard it called something else: laughing gas. If you are interested in learning more about it, including how it works, read on or give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Dental nitrous oxide in Matthews is often recommended for patients who:
- Fear needles
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Struggle with mild to moderate anxiety
- Experience head/neck/jaw pain in the treatment chair
- Need extensive dental care, like multiple tooth extractions
With that said, this mild form of sedation dentistry isn’t for everyone. For example, if you are pregnant, you have a breathing condition, like asthma, or you’re allergic, then we will need to find another way to give you the positive experience you deserve at our office.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting method of dental sedation that we administer via a small nose mask. Once you arrive at our office and settle comfortably into the treatment chair, we will position it in place and ask you to breathe through your nose. Within a matter of minutes, the effects will set in, putting you in a deep and comfortable state that will make your appointment fly by. Throughout your visit, we will check in with you to ensure you’re doing okay and, if needed, adjust the flow of nitrous oxide.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
One of the best benefits of nitrous oxide is that the effects wear off just as quickly as they kick in. As a result, you don’t have to arrange for someone to drive you home or take the rest of the day off work. Instead, you can carry on with the rest of your day as you normally would. Just make sure that you follow any aftercare instructions we provide you with pertaining to the care you received, like sticking to soft foods for the next 24 hours or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater periodically.
Oral Conscious Sedation
We also offer oral conscious sedation in Matthews. This method is administered in the form of a pill, which means it takes a little longer to feel the effects—usually about an hour. Before your appointment, our team will prescribe the medication to you, typically one in the diazepam family, and will have you take it about an hour before you come to the office. That way, by the time you arrive, you’ll feel ready and relaxed to start your treatment. Because the effects of the medication can linger for up to eight hours, you’ll need to have a trusted friend or family member drop you off and pick you up from our office.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
Usually, sedation dentistry is classified as a “luxury” treatment and, therefore, is not covered by dental insurance providers. With that said, there are some exceptions. For example, if you need more extensive care, like multiple tooth extractions, then a portion of the cost may be covered. That’s why it’s so important to read through the fine print on your plan and familiarize yourself with your benefits! If you need any help, you’re more than welcome to ask our Matthews dental team for assistance. Since we welcome both HMO and PPO plans, we can review your coverage and provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses.
Important reminder: Dental insurance isn’t the only financial solution available. With trusted third-party financiers like CareCredit and Cherry, you can break up the cost of sedation dentistry into smaller, more manageable chunks that fit comfortably within your monthly budget.
How long does dental sedation last?
The answer to this question depends largely on the type of sedation you’re receiving. With nitrous oxide, it only takes a few minutes for the effects to dissipate. With oral conscious sedation, the effects usually last for the rest of the day. That’s why, if you choose the latter, our sedation dentist in Matthews will ask you to arrange for an adult you know and trust to drive you to and from your appointment.
Can dental sedation make you sick?
Again, the answer depends on the type of sedation dentistry you receive. Nitrous oxide, for example, is so mild that feelings of nausea are quite rare. Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, is much stronger. Since there is a slightly higher risk of feeling sick, we usually ask patients to fast prior to their appointment.
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
No, despite what you may have seen on TV shows or in movies, sedation dentistry is not a “truth serum.” So, it’s very unlikely that you will say anything that you usually wouldn’t while under the effects. Plus, even if you did share something during your time in the treatment chair, you won’t have to worry; it won’t leave the walls of our office.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
Even with the forms of sedation that don’t put you to sleep, like nitrous oxide, you may have a hard time remembering the procedure. Not only does this make the time in the treatment chair seem shorter, but it also helps patients form a more positive association with visiting the dentist. In fact, many patients who once struggled with considerable dental anxiety now have the positive, calm, and stress-free experience they deserve at our office thanks to the memory loss effect!