Oral-Conscious Sedation in Houston, TX

Advancements in technology have changed dentistry over the years, making dental visits more comfortable, minimally invasive, and overall enjoyable in many ways. But dental fear and anxiety are often still experienced by patients, even given the positive changes and comfortable approach to care. At Made Ya Smile Dental West 8, we go the extra mile to help ensure you and your family get the quality care you need without letting your dental fear get in the way. Oral-conscious sedation is a service we offer to help minimize mild to moderate dental fear and anxiety. With this sedation method, anti-anxiety medication is taken orally about an hour prior to your scheduled appointment time. The effects can leave you very relaxed and without worry when it comes to visiting the dentist for treatment. If you having been putting off a dental visit due to past fears, multiple treatment needs, or other issues, let a general dentist help you enjoy positive experiences and healthy results for your smile. Contact our Houston, TX practice today to learn more about your options for care with sedation dentistry.

A multitude of reasons may cause patients to experience fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist. Some of those most common include a sensitive gag reflex, bad childhood memories of dental treatments, and sensitive teeth. Oral-conscious sedation can help minimize any fear you may have and allow to feel at peace and relaxed when undergoing simple or complex dental procedures. When choosing this "twilight sedation" option for your care, you will remain conscious but may feel very drowsy and may even fall asleep. However, you should still be able to respond to our instructions and be easily awakened. If you are interested in receiving sedation dentistry, we will talk with you about your concerns and review your medical health history (including medications or supplements taken) and help you determine the best type of sedative option for you. If you have certain conditions, such as heart or breathing problems, are allergic to benzodiazepines, or are pregnant, another relaxation option may be better suited for your general health and treatment needs.

Oral-conscious sedation can be customized by us to complement your dental care for positive visits while meeting your level of dental anxiety. She will call in a prescription for an anti-anxiety pill to your pharmacy to be taken one hour before you arrive at our Houston, TX office. While some sedative medications offer minimal effects, others can provide deeper relaxation for more moderate cases of dental anxiety. Soon after taking the medication as prescribed, you should start to feel the calming and relaxation effects. You may feel drowsy and even have little memory of your dental visit. Even if you do fall asleep, you should awaken easily when your procedure is complete. As a result of these effects, you must have an adult drive you to and from your appointment when under oral-conscious sedation.

Choosing sedation for your care can help you enjoy positive dental visits and get the care needed for a healthy and attractive smile. Our team will let you know what to expect from the oral-conscious sedation experience prior to your treatment day. Since each anti-anxiety medication may have sedative effects that range from light to deeper relaxation, recovering from oral-conscious sedation will vary based on individual cases. However, you will still need to have someone drive you to and from your visit, regardless of the type of medication. We also advises against you driving or using heavy machinery for the rest of the day. Instead, it is best to go home and relax until the sedative effects fully wear off, which may take several hours. In some cases, prescription sedatives may induce dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Eating a light meal or snack about an hour before and then again after your visit may help to minimize the feeling of nausea. In the event that these effects last or you have any concerns or questions about your sedation, please call our team at Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 right away.

We want you to get the care you need for better oral health and are pleased to offer a range of easy payment options to cover any personal costs for oral-conscious sedation. To learn if your insurance provides coverage toward this service, a member of our team will review your individual plan. Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 also partners with CareCredit® to offer financing solutions for making your dental treatment even more affordable.

Thanks to modern, effective dentistry and sedation solutions, you no longer have to fear a trip to the dentist. Oral-conscious sedation can be tailored to provide mild to moderate levels of sedation and allow you to enjoy relaxed and comfortable visits that are free from dental anxiety. Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 offers a caring environment in which you and your family can feel at ease when receiving simple or complex dental care for your beautiful smile. Let our Houston, TX team help you overcome the fear that has been holding you back. Contact us today for more information on complementing your dental care with oral-conscious sedation.