Sedation Dentistry – West Lake Hills, TX
Feeling Anxious? Our Friendly Team Has Solutions
If you’ve ever felt nervous prior to a dental appointment, please know that you are not alone. In fact, many people often avoid dental visits (even when they need them) because of a negative experience with a previous dentist. Westlake Hills Dental Arts recognizes these concerns, which is why we offer sedation dentistry at our dental office for your convenience. Call today to learn how we can make your visits a breeze, even if you have dental anxiety thanks to sedation dentistry in West Lake Hills, TX.
Why Choose Westlake Hills Dental Arts for Sedation Dentistry?
- Fast-Acting Nitrous Oxide Available
- Safe and Effective
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Caring & Gentle
Dentist and Team
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
Nitrous oxide is commonly used by dental practices across the country to help soothe their patients’ dental anxiety. You may sometimes hear nitrous oxide referred to as laughing gas; this is because it often causes feelings of euphoria that can make some individuals giggly. Depending on your needs, our team can use nitrous oxide in West Lake Hills to help you have a more relaxing, comfortable experience when you visit our office.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
You may want to consider nitrous oxide sedation if any of the following are true:
- You often experience mild fear or anxiety when it comes to dental care of any kind.
- You have a sensitive gag reflex that can get in the way of dental treatment.
- Your mouth doesn’t get numb easily.
- You find it hard to sit still as long as you need to for a dental appointment.
- You have particularly sensitive teeth or gums.
Note that you might not be able to have nitrous oxide sedation administered if you’re currently pregnant or have a respiratory disease. Our team will need to determine whether you’re a good candidate for nitrous oxide by reviewing your overall health history.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Nitrous oxide sedation involves a mask attached to a special machine. During your appointment, we’ll place the mask over your nose, then turn the machine on. You’ll breathe in nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen; within minutes, you’ll start feeling calmer and more relaxed than normal.
The whole time that you’re under the effects of nitrous oxide, you can count on our team to monitor you carefully. We can adjust the sedation levels as needed for your safety and comfort.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
It only takes a few minutes for the effects of nitrous oxide to completely wear off once the mask is removed. This means that you’ll be able to drive yourself home and return to your normal activities immediately after your appointment. Note that we’ll ask you to remain in our office until we’re sure that the effects have dissipated.
In some cases, nitrous oxide may cause minor side effects such as nausea, headaches, and unusual tiredness. Fortunately, it shouldn’t take too long for these symptoms to dissipate once you stop breathing in the gas.
By itself, nitrous oxide doesn’t require any downtime. However, if you undergo a more invasive procedure, you may need to spend a day or two resting at home to recover from the treatment. Our team will give you any instructions that might be necessary for making sure the recovery process goes smoothly.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation FAQs
Is nitrous oxide safe?
Nitrous oxide is completely safe for patients of all ages. In fact, out of all of the dental sedation methods out there, nitrous oxide in Austin is considered the safest for the most people. However, before administering any medication, our sedation dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your medical, oral, and overall health history to make sure you’re a good candidate. Our trained staff will also monitor you throughout your treatment to ensure your safety.
Can I get nitrous oxide if I’m pregnant?
Because the sedation medications could pass through the placenta, using sedation during the first trimester could cause developmental issues. As a result, we typically don’t provide nitrous oxide to patients who are pregnant.
Will I remember my appointment after getting nitrous oxide?
Dental sedation doesn’t always put you to sleep, so it’s likely that you’ll remember bits and pieces of your appointment, but they’ll feel fuzzy when you try to recollect the sights, sounds, and other details of your visit.
Is nitrous oxide covered by dental insurance?
Every dental insurance plan varies, but typically, they don’t cover sedation dentistry. However, if your plan is an exception, our team can help you maximize your coverage by filing any claims on your behalf if you have a PPO plan.
Can nitrous oxide make you sick?
While it’s rare for patients to experience negative side-effects from nitrous oxide sedation, it is possible that you may feel nauseous afterwards. Because nitrous oxide isn’t an incredibly strong form of dental sedation though, it typically takes patients less than 30 minutes to feel back to their normal selves.
Will nitrous oxide put me to sleep?
In some cases, nitrous oxide can make patients drowsy and cause them to drift off during their appointments, but it doesn’t always make you go to sleep. In some cases, you may find that your memories become a little fuzzy like you were asleep, but this is a natural effect of sedation dentistry in Austin.