At Seaglass Dental Care, Dr. Jared Schmitt offers both laughing gas sedation and oral conscious sedation to every patient at our office. We believe that you should be able to relax and feel comfortable at the dentist, and sedation can be very helpful if you’re anxious about seeing the dentist.

If you’ve never been sedated before, you might not know what to expect. In this blog, we’ll help you understand what each type of dental sedation feels like. Read on, and learn more about which sedation method may be right for you.

Should I Be Sedated At My Appointment? Understanding The Benefits

The biggest benefit of sedation is that it can help you stay calm and comfortable during treatment, even if you have dental anxiety. You will not feel as anxious or fearful, and you will be able to relax.

Sedation also helps inhibit pain, especially combined with numbing. This ensures you won’t feel any discomfort throughout your procedure. It also makes it easier for you to sit still for a long time, which may be helpful if you’re scheduled for a long appointment or multiple treatments.

Beyond this, sedation also helps inhibit your gag reflex and reduces other types of fear that can interfere with your appointment, such as the fear of numbing needles. If any of these benefits sound appealing to you, you may want to consider sedation at your next appointment at Seaglass Dental Care.

What To Expect From Laughing Gas Sedation

First, Dr. Schmitt will put a nose mask over your face. Then, he will pump in a mixture of laughing gas and oxygen. You’ll breathe in through your nose as directed. Once you breathe in, you will start to feel “floaty,” disconnected from what’s happening around you, and less nervous and anxious about what’s going on around you. Some patients even giggle or find strange things to be funny, hence the term “laughing gas.”

Once your treatment is complete, Dr. Schmitt will pump pure oxygen through the mask to purge the remaining nitrous oxide from your system. The effects will wear off within 2-3 minutes. After-effects are mild and may include nausea, a headache, or confusion. However, you will still be able to drive yourself home or even go back to work after being sedated.

What To Expect From Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation consists of a liquid or pill-based medication you’ll take 1-2 hours before your appointment. Once it begins to take effect, you will begin to feel groggy and sleepy. It’s also quite common for patients to fall asleep during treatment. You will likely forget most or all of what happened during your procedure.

Oral conscious sedation lasts a lot longer than nitrous sedation. Your ability to drive and operate heavy machinery will be impaired for 4-6 hours. Throughout the rest of the day, you may feel effects like nausea, dizziness, confusion, and feelings of sluggishness or heaviness. You cannot go back to work, or drive yourself home. It is important to make prior arrangements for transportation to and from your appointment.

Know What To Expect – See Dr. Schmitt For Sedation Dentistry In North Palm Beach!

If you’ve never been sedated at the dentist before, our team will gladly answer any further questions you may have about the process. Ready to get started with sedation dentistry, and relax during your next appointment? Contact Seaglass Dental Care at (561) 581-5001 to get started, or drop by our office at 384 Northlake Blvd, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 to schedule your appointment in person.