At our Sugar Land dental office, Dr. Reagan Grizzle decided to offer sedation dentistry when he realized how many of our patients had a fear of the dentist. Nearly half of all Americans admit to having some type of dental phobia or anxiety and probably many more that never admit it at all.
Sedation dentistry utilizes medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. The medication may come in the form of an inhalant like nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) or a stronger pill form of a medication to help you relax completely.
Both have their benefits. Nitrous oxide is convenient and wears off quickly once we cease administering it. You do not need to worry about driving after your appointment because by the time you leave, the nitrous oxide will be out of your system.
Oral conscious sedation is highly effective in treating people with a moderate to severe dental phobia. Oral conscious sedation comes in pill form and while it relaxes you completely, you cannot drive after we administer it, so you will need someone to bring you to your dental appointment and take you home.
Oral conscious sedation limits your awareness to your surroundings, but still allows us to speak to you and you can answer questions.