At Dentist of Cerritos, we want our patients to feel safe, secure, and comfortable during dental procedures. One of the ways we can help patients have a pain-free experience is through dental sedation in Cerritos. It is a safe, effective, and gentle way to help you get the dental treatment you need without experiencing dental anxiety.
Dental sedation is also known as “sleep dentistry.”
Your Cerritos dentist administers anti-anxiety medication before or during your dental appointment. The sedative medications allow you to relax and stay anxiety-free while receiving dental treatment.
To make sure you’re a good candidate for dental sedation in Cerritos, your dental team will review your medical history to ensure your safety before administering or prescribing any medications.
To be able to prescribe or utilize sedatives in-office, your dental team must first receive the proper training, obtain a permit, and earn their certification. We’re also legally, morally, and ethically bound to regularly check our equipment to ensure it’s safe, as well as to constantly monitor any patient that’s been given sedative medication.
It is important to note that whenever someone receives sedative medications – no matter what type they receive – they will need someone to drive them to and from their appointment. It is not safe to drive when you’re under the influence of these types of medications.
Conscious sedation takes a variety of forms, with its main purpose to keep you awake but pain and anxiety-free. It’s available in the form of tablets, nitrous oxide gas, or intravenous solution, and it’s commonly used for routine teeth cleanings, dental fillings, and root canals.
Twilight sedation makes you feel sleepy and relaxed, as if in a half-waking, half-sleeping state. While you are technically conscious, you may not remember much about the procedure afterward. We use this type of sedation so we can interact with you and ask questions or give instructions if needed. It is administered via nitrous oxide or IV.
Unconscious sedation is more commonly known as general anesthesia. This type of dental sedation in Cerritos relaxes patients so much that they fall asleep. They are never aware of the dental procedure and don’t remember anything about their appointment when they wake up.
General anesthesia is typically provided via mask and inhalation or intravenously. This type of sedation is not commonly used with most dental procedures, but some patients who can’t use other types of sedation may be candidates for it.
More often than not, this type of sedation is reserved for surgical patients or those who have certain medical conditions or developmental disabilities that require hospital dentistry. In these situations, the dental team performs as many procedures as possible while the patient is under sedation to reduce the number of appointments, as well as the amount of sedative medication the patient requires.
Absolutely! Your Cerritos dentist understands that each patient is different and has their own unique needs. Before your appointment, we will review our sedation options with you and decide on the one that will fit your needs the best.
You can rest assured, too, that each method of sedation we offer will be expertly administered and that you will be constantly monitored before, during, and after your appointment.
Oral sedation is simply a sedative medication in pill form that is used to help you relax. Be sure to tell us in advance if you are on any painkillers or other medicines that could potentially interact with the oral sedative.
Nitrous oxide is popularly known as “laughing gas.” You breathe the nitrous oxide in through a small mask that fits over your nose. It is fast-acting and wears off quickly once we turn off the nitrous oxide and allow you to breathe pure oxygen through the mask after your procedure.
General anesthesia is a type of liquid or gas medication that is administered through an IV or mask. It will induce unconsciousness.
Sedation dentistry makes many of our modern dental techniques possible as it keeps our patients comfortable and relaxed. Dental sedation in Cerritos helps you experience the benefits of dental treatment without undue pain and anxiety. We use safe and effective methods that can help both adults and children have a stress-free dental experience. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits.
Not every patient requires sedation. Additionally, even patients with high levels of anxiety don’t always need dental sedation in Cerritos for every dental procedure.
Dental sedation is best administered in the following scenarios.
Please note that patients who fit into these categories can be children or adults – and your Cerritos dentist can provide sedation options for all of them.
Your Cerritos dentist will review how the sedation process works before your appointment. We provide sedation in the form of gas breathed in through a mask, oral tablets, or an IV. Each sedation method will take effect at different times. We will let you know what to expect when that happens.
The costs for dental sedation vary depending on the type of sedation and the procedure. IV sedation, for example, can cost a few hundred dollars, ranging anywhere from $250 to $1000.
Dental sedation in Cerritos is typically a separate fee and has a separate dental billing code than that of the actual procedure. Check with your dental insurance provider to see what sedation coverage they offer.
The first course of action you should take is to make plans for someone to drive you to and from your appointment. It is also best to have a responsible, capable adult with you for the rest of the day who can monitor you and help you as needed.
Your Cerritos dentist will also make sure to provide you with pre-operative instructions. For example, they may require that you don’t eat or drink anything for at least eight to 12 hours before administering IV sedation.
Some patients experience such high anxiety – and even panic attacks – when just thinking about going to the dentist that they avoid appointments altogether. This is definitely not a good long-term strategy. The longer you put off seeing the dentist, the more problems will arise and the more pain you might endure.
We don’t want you to end up in pain. With dental sedation in Cerritos, we can help make routine dental visits feel like a calming, comfortable experience. And when you visit your dentist regularly, we can help reduce your risk of dental conditions that result in pain or long appointments in the dental chair.
Reduce Your Anxiety and Get The Treatment You Need With Sedation in Cerritos
Are you worried about an upcoming dental procedure? Let us put your mind at ease. Contact us to schedule a consultation and we’ll answer all your questions about oral sedation in Cerritos.
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