Sedation Dentistry – Everett, WA
Reducing Anxiety with Proven Solutions
At Albright Family Dental, we understand the challenges patients face when preparing for an upcoming dental appointment. When faced with mild, moderate, or severe dental anxiety, it can be tempting to call and reschedule or cancel your visit altogether. Unfortunately, this can and will lead to worsening oral health problems that require additional time and money to fix. Fortunately, with the help of sedation dentistry in Everett, Dr. Kaopua and our team can help you become more comfortable and relaxed, allowing for a smoother, more enjoyable experience. To learn more about the sedation options available in our office, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Albright Family Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Safe for Children and Adults
- Experienced, Qualified, and Trusted Dental Team
- Proven Results for Better Experiences
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is an ideal sedation method for patients who suffer from mild dental anxiety. Safe for both children and adults, it can help to lessen many of the most common fears patients face when visiting the dentist’s office. Whether you require a general checkup and cleaning or a simple dental filling, nitrous oxide can help you feel more at ease during your appointment. If you want to learn more about this calming solution, you can reach out to our Everett dental team to schedule an appointment or read on!
Oral Conscious Sedation
When nitrous oxide isn’t enough to curb your dental anxiety or you require more complex dental work, Dr. Kaopua can recommend oral conscious sedation for eligible individuals. During your initial appointment, you will receive a prescribed oral medication, which you will take hours before your procedure. Because it will cause you to become a bit groggy, you’ll need to have someone escort you to and from your appointment. By the time you reach our dental office in Everett, the effects will cause you to feel completely relaxed and comfortable, allowing our team to begin your procedure immediately.
Much like nitrous oxide does not put you to sleep, neither will oral conscious sedation. Instead, you will remain coherent enough to respond to cues but will unlikely remember much, if anything, from your appointment. This unique benefit makes oral conscious sedation an appealing option for many adults.
After Dr. Kaopua is finished with your procedure, you will need someone to take you home, as the effects will take a few hours to wear off.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
If you are healthy but show signs of any of the following, there is a good chance that Dr. Kaopua will recommend you for sedation dentistry:
- Past traumatic experience involving a dental procedure or dentist
- Fear of needles
- Inability to sit still for extended periods of time
- Preparing to undergo multiple or complex dental procedures
- Sensitive or strong gag reflex
- Mild to severe dental anxiety that prevents you from receiving regular dental care
It is important that you go over your medical history with our team when you arrive for your consultation. This will help us to determine if any health concerns might make you ineligible for treatment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
When administered by professionals trained in their use, sedatives are perfectly safe for all kinds of patients. While there are risks associated with any drug, we’ll look over your entire medical history in order to make sure that you don’t have any existing oral health issues that could make sedative use problematic. We’ll also closely monitor your vitals for the duration of treatment to ensure that you’re in good condition.
What Does it Feel Like to be Sedated at the Dentist?
This naturally depends on the kind of sedation that you’re receiving. Milder sedatives, like nitrous oxide, cause you to feel light and relaxed. The name “laughing gas” is pretty fitting, as many patients report getting the giggles while under the influence of the drug.
Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, may cause you to feel heavy and induce deeper relaxation. Time will pass quickly and many patients even doze off during the procedure.
How Much does Sedation Dentistry Cost?
The price varies by the sedative you’re receiving, with stronger sedatives tending to cost more. Typically, nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation should only cost you a few hundred dollars.
It’s good to note that nitrous oxide is billed by the hour, which means that longer procedures involving this sedative will cost more. This is in contrast to oral conscious sedation, which only entails taking a single pill.
Is Sedation Dentistry Worth It?
Obviously, if you’re someone who struggles to make it to the dentist’s office otherwise, sedation dentistry could be more than worth it for you. However, there are other worthwhile uses for it besides just managing anxiety.
Sedatives allow patients to sit still for longer periods, making conducting several procedures in a single appointment much easier and more efficient. If planned properly, you could save a lot of time and energy by making good use of dental sedatives.