Sedation Options

For our fearful or anxious patients, we have the option of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) for a minimal in-office fee or an oral sedative for the cost of a prescription. Neither option will “put you out”; they are not a “sleep dentistry” option but they both help you to feel more relaxed. The oral sedative also has amnetic properties, which means although you are awake; most patients do not remember a lot of the appointment.

For our fearful or anxious patients, we have the option of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) for a minimal in-office fee or an oral sedative for the cost of a prescription.

Laughing gas is a good option for those patients who do not have a driver to or from the appointment. At the end of the procedure, the patient breaths in 5 minutes of oxygen to displace the gas and patients leave feeling normal. For best effects of the gas, no food is recommended 4 hours prior to appointment. Occasionally there are the post-treatment effects of slight nausea or headache but most patients feel back to normal prior to leaving our office.

The oral sedative option is a prescription that you start taking the night before to ensure a good night rest. Another dose is taken one hour prior to the dental appointment and a driver is required to and from the appointment. The drug also takes about 24 hours to be completely eliminated from the body so it is not advised to return to work post-appointment.