(217) 546-3333Sedation Dentist in Springfield
Providing Stress-Free Dental Care
Going to the dentist is an extremely nerve-wracking experience for many patients, and most other offices do very little to calm those nerves. At Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, we want our patients to be comfortable in every way at every moment of their appointment, so if they need a little help to relax in the chair, we’re happy to provide sedation dentistry. Whether you’re only a little anxious or completely terrified of visiting the dentist, our sedation dentist can help calm your mind and protect you from pain using the techniques outlined below. Sedation dentistry is also for people who gag easily or have difficulty getting numb for dental treatment. Sedation dentistry makes it possible to have the most comfortable appointment you have ever had. Would you like to use sedation at your next appointment? Contact us today to explore your options.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Do you experience pretty severe dental phobia? If so, oral conscious sedation can finally make it easy for you to take care of your teeth. Your dentist will prescribe you a pill to take about an hour before you’re scheduled to come see us so that by the time you actually sit in the chair, you’ll already be deeply relaxed. You’ll remain awake the entire time, but your appointment will fly by very quickly, and you’ll likely have little to no memory of it afterward.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Need something to just “take the edge off” of your dental nerves? With nitrous oxide sedation, all you’ll need to do is inhale a colorless, odorless gas through a small nasal mask to start feeling warm, safe, and even euphoric in the dental chair. The mask will stay on during your entire appointment, and when it’s removed, the gas’ effects go away almost instantly, and you’ll be able to go on with your day without any lasting drowsiness.
IV Sedation
Has your fear of the dentist prevented you from getting regular appointments for years? Do you require an extensive amount of dental work? IV sedation is the strongest and fastest-acting sedation method we offer. A powerful sedative will be administered straight into your bloodstream via a small injection in your hand or arm, and within moments, you’ll sink into deep, deep relaxation. The best part about this approach is that your dentist can actually adjust your sedation level in real time to make sure you’re completely safe and comfortable moment to moment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Dental sedatives can be incredibly useful for all kinds of patients, but they’re unfortunately a little bit misunderstood, which can make already-nervous patients reticent to give them a try. We believe that it’s important for our patients to be as educated as possible about the various types of care that we offer, including sedation dentistry.
We’ll tell you more when we meet you in person, but before then, here are answers to some of the most common questions that we get about dental sedatives.
What Does Dental Sedation Feel Like?
What sedatives will feel like depends on which one you use. Nitrous oxide sedation is commonly known as “laughing gas,” and as the name would suggest, it can make people feel a little bit giggly. You may also feel light, relaxed, and perhaps a little bit tingly.
On the other hand, oral conscious sedation and IV sedation are stronger, and therefore cause a deeper sense of relaxation. Unlike nitrous oxide, you may feel “heavy,” and time could feel like it’s passing extraordinarily quickly. While they feel similar, IV sedation is the stronger of the two.
Is Sedation Dentistry Covered by Insurance?
Typically, no. Sedation dentistry is considered to be elective in most cases, which means that dental insurance companies won’t often pay for them.
However, they may make an exception if it’s determined that sedation is necessary in order to get treatment, like in the case of special needs patients. You may also get some insurance coverage if the treatment is extraordinarily complicated, like if you need multiple tooth extractions back-to-back.
The nature of dental insurance makes it difficult to make blanket statements about what will and will not be covered, so we’ll have to consult with your dental plan in order to help you get the most out of your benefits.
How Long Does Dental Sedation Last?
Again, this depends on the type of sedation that you’re receiving. Some sedatives, like nitrous oxide, wear off almost immediately after the administration of the drug has stopped. Others, like oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, will linger for a while after the procedure is complete.
In the case of the latter, you should refrain from operating heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after receiving sedation. And in any case, it’s usually a good idea to get someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment.
Does Dental Sedation Make You Sleep?
Dental sedatives are designed not to put you to sleep. This is so that it’s possible for you to listen and adhere to the dentists’ instructions for the duration of treatment. In some cases, the sedatives can make the memories of treatment a little fuzzy, so it may feel like you fell asleep even if you haven’t.
You may also be so relaxed during sedation that you fall asleep incidentally, but in that case, it’s possible for your dental team to gently nudge you awake.
