Sedation Dentistry in Houston and Richmond, TX

Sedation Dentistry

At Best Dental, we offer Sedation Dentistry to our patients who have anxiety and phobias of getting dental procedures performed. We offer a multitude of sleep dentistry options including Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), Oral Sedation alternative, as well as IV Sedation.

Sleep Dentistry Options at Best Dental

If you are highly fearful of the dentist, IV sedation can be a great option. Many of our patients sleep through the dental procedures, even simple procedures like dental cleanings. We know how anxious you can be at the dentist, which is why our team of sleep specialists offer this service to residents in and around the greater Houston, TX area.

For our patients who choose not to have IV sedation, we also provide oral sedation to help you relax during the dental procedure as well.

All forms of dental sedation help our patients feel more comfortable during treatment. If you suffer from dental phobia or anxiety, sedation dentistry may be right for you. Below are some commonly asked questions regarding sedation dentistry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Sedation Dentistry

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is the art of using different methods to help place patients at ease. Whether it’s through medications, or through inhalation devices, sedation dentistry is an art form that is practiced by trained and elite dentists. Dr. Jasmine Naderi does a complete and thorough examination of the patient to customize the sedation form that is right for you. Her team of sedation specialists then perform whatever method of sedation that was recommended for you to help put you at a relaxed state through whatever dental procedure that is being performed inside your mouth.

What are the different methods of sedation used in dentistry?

There are three main forms of sedation used today in modern dentistry:

• Inhalation Dentistry: The use of nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) to help sedate the patient
• Oral Conscious Sedation: The use of oral medications to help you relax during your dental procedure
• IV (Intravenous Sedation): The use of a catheter to help inject medications directly into your bloodstream.

Who are good candidates for sedation dentistry?

Children and adults who have a fear of the dentistry are all good candidates. The important point to remember here is the patients past medical history. Certain medications and inhalation methods may be contraindicated when certain diseases are present. Dr. Jasmine and her team will inform you during your appointment is there is any drawback to sedation dentistry for your particular case during your consultation appointment with our team.

What are some benefits of sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry has grown in recognition due to a number of benefits it offers our patients. Some of these perks include:

• The ability to perform all of your dental work in one visit, thus allowing less long term stress and anxiety in the dental chair.
• The ability to forget what was done (amnesia) during your procedure. This is especially useful with IV sedation as many pharmacological agents contain retrograde amnesic effects allowing you to forget what happened during your procedure.
• Reducing long term costs by allowing you to finish the dentistry that your mouth desperately needs.

How does oral conscious sedation work?

An oral agent (medicine) is given to you normally one hour prior to your procedure. Dr. Jasmine and her team will guide you as you start to feel more relaxed and at ease before your procedure. Remember that oral sedation does not actually make you sleep. You will be conscious and able to answer any questions the doctor has. The main goal with oral conscious sedation is to help you relax during the procedure and put your anxiety aside. Our patients are normally thrilled by how smooth and easy their procedure proceeds with this method of sedation.

The most common agents that are used for oral conscious sedation include Valium and Halcyon. Both of these anti anxiety medications are given by dentists depending on their preference.

At Best Dental, we offer oral conscious sedation to our patients. This has allowed many of our patients to feel comfortable and stress-free during their treatment.

You will need to have a driver take you home after your procedure as you will not be able to drive yourself home. When you arrive home, make sure you take the rest of the day off to relax and recover. Plenty of fluids are recommended after the procedure to quickly remove the agents from your system.

What is Intravenous Sedation (IV Sedation)?

IV sedation is also known as twilight sedation. It is the insertion of a catheter inside your vein that allows the doctor to directly inject pharmacological agents into your blood. This allows your dentist to titrate the medication to give you the exact amount of medication that you need during your procedure. IV sedation a lot of times will allow you to sleep during your dental procedure, which is a huge benefit to our patients.

Is IV Sedation the same as General Anesthesia?

This is a question that we get asked a lot. Although both sedation methods are forms of anesthesia, they are different in many respects. Patients undergoing general anesthesia will have a complete loss of consciousness. This means that patients will not feel, hear or remember anything after the procedure. In order to achieve this loss of consciousness, a mixture of drugs at an elevated dose is needed.

In contrast, IV sedation is a state somewhere between being very sleepy, being relaxed in consciousness, and yet not unconscious. The patients may not feel pain, but can sense what is going on around them.

As an advantage, the adverse effects that may be associated with general anesthesia are avoided with IV sedation. Moreover, patients maintain their natural physiological reflexes and are capable of breathing on their own. Patients under general anesthesia must have their airways closely monitored at all times.

What is the difference between IV sedation and Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)?

Another commonly asked question at Best Dental. IV sedation as mentioned before involves the insertion of a small catheter into a vein in the body.

Nitrous oxide is a gas that you inhale before the procedure to reduce your level or anxiety. It is a mixture of Oxygen and Nitrous oxide gas and it does not involve the insertion of a catheter into the body.

Nitrous oxide is available at Best Dental, and we encourage any patient to use it to help control and reduce any heightened anxiety that you may have.

Is IV Sedation safe?

It can be very safe under the right hands, and very dangerous if someone is not properly trained in how to handle the complications. At Best Dental, our sedation expert has years of hospital training that allows him handle any and all complications that may arise during the course of treatment.

Is IV sedation safe during pregnancy?

At Best Dental, we care about the health and safety of our patients. We do not recommend nor will we sedate any patient who is currently pregnant. Many of the agents that are given in sedation dentistry are not allowed to be infused in the bloodstream during a woman’s pregnancy.

Is IV Sedation effective in reducing my anxiety?

It most certainly is. It is the most commonly used and effective technique used in dentistry today to reduce the fear of the dentist.

At Best Dental, we understand that the dental office is not the funnest or most ideal place to be. If you suffer from high dental anxiety, ask Dr. Jasmine about the types of sedation we offer, and how it can help you regain a high level of oral health.

Can IV Sedation make you sleep?

It definitely can. Many of our patients are snoring during their procedure. We will slowly monitor you during the procedure to make sure that a proper amount of agents are slowly infused into your system.

Does IV sedation hurt?

Not at all. The initial placement of the catheter is a little uncomfortable, but that’s really about it. The great news is the medicines that are given can cause short term amnesia so you don’t remember what happened during your procedure.

What Procedures can IV sedation be used for?

Any dental procedures. Whether it’s a simple dental cleaning, to any complicated oral surgery procedure (Wisdom teeth extractions, dental implant placement), IV sedation can be used in any setting.

When will IV sedation wear off?

This question has a different answer for each individual. Some people have a high drug metabolism, and can breakdown the drugs quickly from their body. Other will carry the agents in their body a bit longer making the sedation linger a little longer as well.

What are the costs of sedation dentistry in Houston, TX?

This depends on the form of sedation dentistry you will be receiving. Below are the costs of the different forms of sedation dentistry in Houston, TX:

• The average cost of IV Sedation in Houston, TX is $750. Prices can vary based on how long your procedure is, the dentist performing the procedure, and if any additional procedure will be needed after your initial treatment.
• The average cost of Oral Sedation in Houston, TX is $350. The oral sedatives are given to you usually an hour before the procedure, and pre-op and post-op instructions are given to you by the dental team before your procedure
• The average cost of nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) in Houston, TX is $75.

Remember that our team at Best Dental offers multiple payment plan options to help you afford the sedation dentistry that you desperately need to fix any gum and teeth issues that you may have.

Will Dental Insurance Help Pay For My Sedation Dentistry?

Dental insurance plans can differ, but the majority of dental plans cover IV sedation. How much they will pay on your behalf will vary from plan to plan. At Best Dental, our sedation team of specialists will verify with your insurance to find out exactly how much of your sedation costs will be covered.

What medications can be used for Sedation Dentistry?

• Halcyon (Oral Medication)
• Valium (Diazepam – an oral medication)
• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
• Propofol (General Anesthetic)
• Fentanyl
• Midazolam (Versed)
• Ketamine

Halcyon is an oral medication that is commonly give one hour prior to your dental visit to help you relax for your procedure.

Valium, similarly to Halcyon, is an oral medication of the same family that has similar effects as Halcyon

Propofol is a general anesthetic given to promote a very deep level of sedation

Fentanyl is a medication used alongside Versed and Propofol to help establish deeper levels of anesthesia. It’s benefits includes its ability to control pain during a procedure (analgesic effect)

Versed is an IV medication given to promote sedation for a dental procedure

Ketamine is also an IV medication used to promote deeper levels of sedation.

Why choose Best Dental for your sedation dentistry options?

At Best Dental, we offer IV Sedation at prices that you can afford. We charge $400 for our IV sedation services to help take away some of the financial burdens that comes with expensive dentistry. You also want a sedation team that is experienced in the field. Our team of sedation dentists have performed thousands of sedations and have over a decade of sedation dentistry experience.

We want to make sure that your experience is one that you tell all your friends about, and what better way than if you can’t recall what happened during the procedure! Give our Houston and Richmond office a call to see if Sedation Dentistry is right for you.