Sedation Dentist – Hillsboro, OR
Feel At-Ease in the
Treatment Chair
If you feel anxious, nervous, or scared about visiting the dentist, know that you’re not alone. Millions of adults in the nation have dental phobia, which prevents them from receiving the treatments they need to keep their smiles healthy. At Wolfe Dental, we aim to make everyone that walks through our doors feel comfortable and at-home. One of the ways that we’re able to do this for our patients who suffer from this condition is by offering sedation dentistry.
Why Choose Wolfe Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
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Two Different
Sedation
Methods -
Great for
Patients with
Sensitive Gag Reflexes -
In-Network with
Several Dental
Insurance Providers
Oral Conscious Sedation
For patients who have moderate to severe dental anxiety, we may suggest oral conscious sedation. Before your appointment, we’ll prescribe a pill for you to take. After about an hour, the effects will kick-in, helping you feel more comfortable and relaxed by the time you step through our doors. Because oral conscious sedation lasts longer, it’s important that you have a trusted friend or family member scheduled to drop you off and pick you up from our office.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting form of sedation that we administer when you arrive at our office. We’ll guide you back to a treatment chair and place a small mask over your nose that will allow you to breathe-in a colorless, odorless gas. Within about three minutes, you’ll feel the full effects of the nitrous oxide, which many patients describe as “tingling” and “euphoric”. After your treatment is complete, we’ll remove the mask and the effects will quickly wear-off, allowing you to carry on with your day as you normally would.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Dental anxiety is incredibly common, which is why sedation techniques have gotten better and better over the years. That said, we understand if you still have some apprehensions about being sedated in the treatment chair. Rest assured that we’ll address any of your concerns before your procedure, but until then, we invite you to read through some of the questions we get asked the most about sedation dentistry in Hillsboro.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
For the vast majority of patients, sedation dentistry is completely safe for patients young and old. Nitrous oxide in particular is the safest option, as most patients can handle it without a hitch. Before administering sedation, though, our dentists will review your medical history and current medications just to be sure there is no risk of negative interactions. In addition, we will closely monitor your vitals at all times throughout your procedure. You can be sure that you’ll be in good hands every step of the way!
Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?
While sedation dentistry is ideal for nervous or anxious patients, it has several other uses. For example, sedation reduces the brain’s ability to register pain, so we may recommend it for patients with low pain tolerances or sensitive teeth. It also reduces the gag reflex, allowing patients who gag easily to undergo the dental treatment they need. Additionally, dental sedation can help patients who have difficulties sitting still or holding their mouth open for extended periods of time.
Patients with certain medical conditions, including pregnancy, or who are taking certain medications might not be good candidates for sedation dentistry. That’s why we’ll thoroughly go over multiple factors to be sure that sedation is right for you.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
Even though you’ll technically stay awake while under the effects of nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, your memories of your procedure will probably be fuzzy. Oral conscious sedation has a stronger effect, making you more likely to experience memory loss than with nitrous oxide. The good news is that this amnesiac effect makes dental care significantly easier for patients with extremely anxiety, fear, or negative dental experiences in the past.
How long does dental sedation last?
Different types of sedation last for different amounts of time. The effects of nitrous oxide should wear off within a few minutes after you stop inhaling the gas. As a result, you should be able to drive yourself back home or to work after your appointment and resume your day as normal. With oral conscious sedation, however, the sedative will remain in your system for much longer. You will most likely feel groggy for the rest of the day. For this reason, you should have someone drive you to and from our office and keep an eye on you for several hours afterward. You should also avoid driving for the next 24 hours, just to be on the safe side.
