Going to a dental office is a scary experience for a lot of people. If they are sensitive to pain in general, the idea of pain in their mouths is often too much for them.

A Houston sedation dentist can help these people both by taking the pain of treatment away, and by making it possible for them to stop procrastinating getting help with a minor condition that could become a major problem if left untreated.

Our Houston sedation dentists can perform all of the general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry procedures necessary to restore full patient health. The procedures themselves are not done differently. What is different is that the patient is placed into an anesthetized state.

While never completely unconscious, the patient feels so relaxed that he or she never feels pain or discomfort.

Houston patients who come to our office tell us that sedation drastically reduces the usual tension and stress they normally feel when they go to the dentist. This relaxed state of being helps them feel more comfortable and makes much more receptive to treatment.

In addition to helping these people overcome their anxiety, we can often turn multiple visits into a single appointment. We use oral and intravenous delivery methods to give anesthesia, and we consistently help Houston patients who normally have difficulty with conventional anesthetic.

For oral sedation, the dentist will prescribe oral medication that produces a very relaxed state of consciousness. The patient will remain lucid, however, and will be able to respond to the dentist, answer questions, or follow instructions. During the entirety of the procedure, dental assistants monitor patient vitals.

For IV sedation, a Houston Medical Center, board-certified anesthesiologist assists the dentist with the procedure. The anesthesiologist carefully checks patient medical history, consults with their doctor(s) if necessary, and manages the anesthesia care while the dental team works on the condition at hand.

We feel this better serves the interest of the patient and helps everything go smoothly.

Each year, Houston residents from all walks of life benefit from sedation dentistry. Most of these people include those who experience the following phobias and conditions that normally make them put off going to the dentist.

• Fears about dentists in general, usually rooted in traumatic childhood memories
• Difficulty getting numb from Novocain or nitrous oxide
• A strong gag reflex that makes any work inside the mouth difficult
• Unusually sensitive teeth
• A psychological aversion to the smells and sounds of the dental office
• An aversion to needles going into their mouths
• A complex dental need that would otherwise involve multiple appointments to address
• Missing teeth and the need for dental implants and full mouth reconstruction
  

Regardless of the actual procedure performed, our office prescribes medicines appropriate to the patient to alleviate any postoperative discomfort. All patients should also have someone else transport them to and from the procedure.