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Sedation dentistry is an excellent option for patients who avoid going to the dentist out of fear of pain.  A highly trained dentist can combine this method with any general or cosmetic dental treatment.  Sedating a patient prior to initiating any type of dental work will help reduce the person’s natural instinct to tense muscles during stress.  Dental anesthetics make patients feel relaxed and at ease—creating a mindset where concerns and discomforts are put aside.  After the procedure, post-operative medications will also be prescribed appropriate to the treatment performed and the individual patient’s level of discomfort.

Sedation dentistry can benefit people with any of the following anxieties or predispositions toward dental work: 

Have excess fears about dental appointments

Have difficulty achieving sufficient numbness

Have a strong gag reflex

Have highly sensitive teeth

Dislike the noises and smells associated with the dental office

Hate needles and shots

Have complex dental problems that will otherwise take several visits to complete

Wish to have a comprehensive smile redesign

Some patients may only require oral anesthetic administered directly by the dentist.  Many, however, require intravenous anesthetic on an outpatient basis.  For these patients, The Cosmetic Dentistry Center of Houston will bring in a board certified anesthesiologist to perform outpatient IV sedation.

Information on Oral Sedation Dentistry

The patient should have a friend or relative drive him or her to the dentist.  Once at the office, the patients will take a prescribed dose of an oral anesthetic prior to treatment.  This will induce a state of relaxation and comfort.  Trained, professional staff keep the patient under observation at all times, constantly monitoring vital signs.  The objective is to create a state of consciousness where the patient feels no pain but can still respond to the doctor.  The necessary general or cosmetic dental procedures are then performed, and the patient is driven back home.

Information on Intravenous Sedation Dentistry

For some people, oral anesthetic that numbs tissue simply does not offer enough of a comfort zone.  This is often not because of pain, but because of an aversion to the procedure itself.  For these persons, IV sedation dentistry offers a way for any dental procedure or surgery to be performed in a completely non-threatening manner.  Sometimes it also allows for several procedures to be performed in a single visit that would otherwise require multiple trips to the office. 

Because this is basically an outpatient IV operation, a board-certified anesthesiologist must come in to administer the anesthetic directly into the patient’s vein.  This process does not involve putting a patient under general anesthesia.  The patient’s reflexes continue to work, and the patient controls his or her breathing.  While the patient is semi-conscious, the anesthesiologist ensures that enough sedation is administered to calm anxiety and eliminate physical discomfort. 

Professionals on staff constantly monitor vital signs throughout the appointment.  A pulse oximeter, an EKG monitor, and supplemental oxygen will be used as determined by medical professionals. 

Intravenous sedation has been a very effective tool in our practice for outpatient dental care in many different situations.