Relax During Your Dental Treatment With Oral Sedation in Amarillo

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, dental anxiety is common as 40 million Americans experience it. Dental phobia keeps you from going to the dentist and getting the procedures you need to keep your mouth healthy. Sedation dentistry uses medication to sedate you during your dentist visit. This puts you in a relaxed mood, so you can get your dental work done without the stress and fear. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Oral Sedation Dentistry (FAQ)

How Does Oral Sedation Work?

Oral sedation is when you take a pill before dental treatment to calm you. 

Will I Be Awake During the Procedure?

Similar to N2O, you are awake, but you are not aware of the dental procedure, making your visit without anxiety or stress. 

Will I Be Able To Drive Home After Treatment?

Unfortunately not. If you choose oral sedation, someone will need to drive you home as the effects do not wear off quickly. 

How Soon Will the Effects Wear Off?

The oral sedation should be worn off by the evening of your appointment, letting you return to normal activities.

Book Your Appointment With Oral Sedation Today

Contact Texas Implant & Dental Center of Amarillo to learn more or to schedule an appointment with oral sedation. We look forward to giving you a relaxed and comfortable dental visit!

Laughing Gas Sedation in Amarillo

The most common form of sedation in dentistry is with laughing gas. This anesthetic drug, which is used in roughly a third of all dental procedures in the United States, has proven very safe and effective. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Laughing Gas Sedation (FAQ) 

How Will My Appointment With Laughing Gas Work?

Patients who elect to use laughing gas should avoid eating anything for two hours before sedation. Because the gas is administered via a mask and inhaled, it is an attractive option for patients who want to avoid an IV or general anesthetic.

It takes around 30 seconds up to four minutes of breathing for the effects of the gas to start working. The patient will feel a pleasant level of sedation and relaxation. In some cases, the cheeks and gums will start to go numb. This numbing effect is perfectly safe and occurs in roughly one out of every three patients. Once the appropriate amount of gas has been administered to the patient, the dentist will proceed with treatment.

Once the procedure is finished, we switch patients onto full oxygen. Generally, this reverses the sedative’s effects nearly immediately. We then keep you on oxygen for around five minutes, and generally, patients can then leave without an escort and even drive themselves home. This kind of rapid recovery doesn’t occur with general anesthesia or IV sedation.

One of the most valuable uses of laughing gas is its calming factor. Any fear or anxiety over the procedure is usually subjugated by the gas’s relaxing effects, making it particularly good for young children who are afraid of the dentist. In most cases, if you are nervous about your appointment, you can specifically ask for laughing gas to help ease your anxiety and make you more comfortable during the procedure.

Book Your Appointment With Laughing Gas Sedation

Contact Texas Implant & Dental Center of Amarillo to learn more or to schedule an appointment with laughing gas sedation. We look forward to giving you a relaxed and comfortable dental visit!

Ultimate Relaxation During Your Visit With IV Sedation Dentistry in Amarillo

Many patients regard going to the dentist as anxiety-provoking, which is one of the many reasons they put off dental treatment, especially treatment that requires surgery.

With IV Sedation, Dr. Damon and Dr. Whittington can eliminate the reality of the dental procedure from your perception, allowing you to feel relaxed, have anxiety relief, not remember anything about your procedure. 

An IV simply allows a direct line for Dr. Damon to administer your medications in a highly controllable way. It allows for “titration” of your medication dose to your particular needs and your particular physiology. Oral sedation is not as predictable and cannot be “titrated.” In fact, many patients specifically ask for IV sedation because oral sedation did not work for them.

Frequently Asked Questions About IV Sedation (FAQ)

How Does IV Sedation Affect Patients?

Patients usually remember little or nothing about the procedures conducted during their sedated state. The majority of patients feel as though they were asleep. This is partly because people become deeply relaxed in response to IV sedation and partly because the loss of memory (while being sedated) is a side effect (these effects do not continue after the IV ceases to administration). Although patients may feel that they were unconscious during treatment, they are, in fact, still able to respond to requests from our staff during the procedure.

How Do You Administer IV Sedation?

IV sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream via an IV line into a catheter placed into a vein. During the procedure, the tube will stay in place as the drug is administered according to your individual needs.

Because IV sedation does not numb the site at which Dr. Damon is working in a patient’s mouth, they will usually also be given a local anesthesia or injection. This is usually done after the patient receives IV sedation and is already fully relaxed.

During Your Procedure

While you are under IV sedation, our team will track your oxygen levels and pulse using a pulse oximeter that clips onto your finger during your dental procedure. We also monitor respiration, blood pressure, and end-tidal CO2. 

Afterward, the patient may feel groggy and will likely seem a little disoriented for a few minutes. As the patient recovers, their blood pressure levels will be monitored at five-minute intervals to ensure safety. It is important to note that patients should plan on having someone to drive them home from their outpatient procedure, as operating a vehicle is not recommended for 24 hours. 

Choosing Sedation Dentistry in Amarillo

If you have any more questions about IV sedation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team. We look forward to making your dental experience one of comfort and relaxation. Call us today.