Sedation Dentistry

Sedation is a perk available to you for just about any dental procedure you might need. It is not a replacement of traditional anesthesias or techniques, but an add-on to make those processes a little easier to bear.

There are several different ways to receive sedation treatment, but all of them provide a number of great benefits for you.

Ease of Mind | Anxiety is a common difficulty, especially in the face of the dental chair. Sedation practices help lower anxiety and increase peace of mind. In fact, some forms of sedation are even proven anxiolytics, or anti-anxiety measures.

In addition, many older patients who suffer from memory loss or dementia can benefit from a sedation treatment in order to calm sudden fear or confusion.

Ease of Body | Relaxants can ease tension of the muscles and prevent them from contracting at inopportune times. This can be especially helpful in the case of an ailment like Parkinson’s, or when a patient has an overactive gag reflex.

Relaxed muscles also help in the relaxing of the mind by lowering adrenaline production common to fight or flight responses.

There are many different ways to receive dental sedation, each with their own pros and cons.

Minimal Sedation | By far one of the most common and longest-used methods is laughing gas. Laughing gas has been safely and effectively used in dental procedures for well over a hundred years, and is still one of the safest, most hypoallergenic substances used for sedation.

One of the most interesting and useful aspects of laughing gas is the fact that it doesn’t metabolize. In other words, when we take it into our bodies, it doesn’t break down or absorb into our tissues.

This means that from the moment the gas stops flowing, it only takes a minute or two for the substance to completely leave. No residual effects. No adverse reactions. In fact, it is both safe and legal to drive yourself home after laughing gas.

Moderate Sedation | This is otherwise known as conscious sedation. Moderate sedation takes you a little deeper than laughing gas. You’ll still be entirely conscious and able to respond to questions, but you’ll be even more relaxed, for an excellent, low-stress dental experience.

It will, however, leave you groggier than laughing gas, which means you’ll need a ride home from the appointment.

The cost of sedation dentistry varies, depending on several factors like dentist and geographical region. The type of sedation method used is perhaps the most important factor. The type of sedation method that will be used in your case depends on your level of anxiety, general health, allergies and the type of dental care you require.

Minimal sedation like laughing gas and oral sedatives generally cost less than moderate and deep sedation methods like intravenous sedation. General anesthesia is the most expensive form of sedation dentistry, as it requires us to bring in a dental anesthesiologist. However, the cost may be well worth it if you need extensive dental work or have a debilitating fear of dental treatment.

Remember that the cost of the sedation medication is separate from the cost of dental treatment.  Generally, we discuss sedation dentistry costs at the time of your treatment consultation. You will receive a quote for the cost of your dental treatment as well as the cost of the recommended sedation dentistry technique.

Also, consider that sometimes sedation dentistry can help save on overall treatment costs by making it possible for you to undergo several treatments in a single appointment. Combining treatments could eliminate the need for multiple dental appointments and some of the costs incurred by them.

Although some dental insurance companies may cover the cost of sedation dentistry, the majority of insurers do not. They consider sedation methods to be optional and therefore not eligible for coverage. If you are interested in sedation dentistry, we encourage you to check with your individual provider for your plan details. If they do offer coverage, we are happy to help you submit a claim. We understand how difficult it can be to navigate dental insurance and our team is always here to answer any questions you may have.

Please contact Dr. Spencer and our team for information about accepted forms of payment and possible financing options. Financing the cost of sedation dentistry may break the total cost down into manageable monthly payments.

You might benefit from sedation dentistry if you:

• Feel anxious, nervous or afraid of receiving dental treatment
• Have avoided the dentist for years because of a previously traumatic experience
• Have extremely sensitive teeth
• Have a severe gag reflex
• Have difficulty getting numb
• Fear needles
• Fear the sounds and smells of a dental drill or other instruments
• Cannot keep your mouth open for extended periods of time
• Have trouble sitting still in a dental chair for extended periods of time
• Need a lot of dental work done in one appointment
• Have a condition that makes it difficult to control your movements
• Have not seen a dentist in many years
• Are embarrassed by the condition of your teeth or gums

Sedation dentistry is commonly used with elderly patients that might have a lower threshold for pain or find it difficult to control their responses to treatment. Sedation dentistry is also recommended to adults that have physical or mental disabilities, or health conditions like Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy, that prevent them from being able to control their movements while receiving treatment. The sedative medication temporarily relaxes these patients so they can safely and comfortably receive the dental treatment they need.

Dr. Spencer sits down with every sedation dentistry candidate one-on-one to determine whether sedation dentistry is a safe option and if so, what type. When you meet with him for your consultation, you can expect him to ask you some questions about yourself and your needs.

Your health and medical history are very important considerations. Your safety and well-being are our ultimate priority and we want to choose the safest sedative method possible. You should be honest and up-front with Dr. Spencer about your medical history, allergies and medications you take. You might be allergic to one of the sedative medications that we use, or you might take a certain medication that interacts badly with anesthesia. We need to know these things so we can make educated decisions about your care and avoid complications.

When we select your sedation method, we will take into account the nature and extent of the dental work needed. We may recommend a different sedative method for a teeth cleaning than we would a full mouth reconstruction. All of these options will be discussed with you at length.