Whether you have dental anxiety, a low pain threshold, or are simply nervous about an upcoming appointment, we have sedation options to keep you comfortable and pain-free. We can provide laughing gas or oral conscious sedation, if you feel it will make your visit more manageable and enjoyable. Dr. Cox offers a compassionate communicative approach to help patients feel at ease about treatment decisions. Call us today to discuss your options!
If you have very severe dental anxiety, or you are simply nervous about a major upcoming oral surgery like the placement of a dental implant or a tooth extraction, we do offer sedation. While we encourage you to explore your other options first, we are more than happy to sedate you for your appointment at our office.
We offer two primary types of sedation at our office. The first is laughing gas sedation. In this method of sedation, a comfortable nose mask is used to pump a mixture of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oxygen into your lungs. The gas helps you relax and feel less anxious, and also helps inhibit pain and discomfort, allowing you to overcome your anxiety. It wears off within about 5 minutes, so you can quickly get back to your day-to-day routine.
The second method of sedation is oral conscious sedation. In this sedation method, you will take a pill containing a strong sedative, usually about an hour before your appointment. Once the sedative takes effect, you will feel extremely groggy and sleepy. It’s very common for patients to fall asleep during their appointments when they’re sedated.
You will not be unconscious, though. You will be able to respond to commands and you can be woken up, if necessary. However, it’s also very common for patients to forget most of what happened during their procedure after being sedated with oral conscious sedation.
Unlike laughing gas sedation, oral conscious sedation has after-effects that can last up to 4-6 hours. You should not go back to work and you cannot drive after treatment. To be treated with this method of sedation, will need to be released into the care of an adult who can drive you home after your procedure at Scarsdale Smiles.
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Sedation dentistry can help you overcome dental anxiety and get the care you need
Dr. Cox offers sedation to help with issues like fear of needles, a strong gag reflex, and anxiety
No matter what brings you into our office, we can provide sedation as long as you are healthy and meet certain criteria
As an experienced family dentist, Dr. Cox can provide sedation for patients of all ages
Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, involves a special nose mask that sends a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide directly into your lungs and bloodstream. When inhaled, this gas causes feelings of happiness, euphoria and relaxation.
This will make you feel less nervous about your procedure and also offers analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. You will remain fully conscious and aware throughout your treatment and the effects of laughing gas wear off after about 5 minutes of being turned off, and have no significant side effects. You can drive yourself home after treatment, or even return to work and other day-to-day tasks.
Oral conscious sedation uses a strong pill-based or liquid (for children) sedative to put patients in a deep state of relaxation. During your appointment, you will feel groggy and tired, and may even fall asleep. This deeper state of sedation is a good option for patients with more severe dental anxiety.
However, the effects of oral conscious sedation usually last for about 4-6 hours or longer. This means that you won’t be able to drive yourself home or go back to work, so you’ll need to plan for this when scheduling your appointment at our office.
Discussing your anxiety with Dr. Cox, or any of the Scarsdale Smiles team, is the best place to start. You can talk about common triggers, such as the sound of dental drills, feelings of being “out of control”, or any other situations that increase your anxiety.
Then, Dr. Cox can work with you to address these triggers and allow you to receive the care you need. Our office is a judgment-free zone, and we specialize in treating patients with anxiety, so come in for a consultation today!
We often recommend sedation for patients with anxiety for restorative procedures, such as fillings or crowns. However, we can offer sedation for just about any type of appointment, including oral exams and preventative visits with our hygienists. Contact Scarsdale Smiles to learn more about sedation dentistry.
While we do offer options for dental sedation at Scarsdale Smiles, Dr. Alex Cox believes that every patient can be treated without sedation, no matter how anxious they may be about receiving dental care.
We do this by providing dentistry with a personal touch. If you have anxiety about the dentist, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Alex Cox to discuss the sources of your anxiety, trouble you’ve had with dentists in the past, and more.
Avoiding sedation means your procedure will take less time, and will be less complex and less expensive. By learning more about your dental anxiety and what common “triggers” cause you to feel anxious at the dentist, Dr. Alex Cox can develop a custom treatment plan, and often provide you with the care you need without any sedation.
For example, if you dislike the sound of dental drills and they cause you to feel scared and panicked, you can wear headphones and listen to your favorite music. Or, if you dislike the feeling of not being in control in the dentist’s chair, Dr. Cox can ask for your approval before performing each step of your dental procedure, allowing you to regain that sense of control.
Each patient is different, and what works for someone else’s anxiety may not work for yours. That’s why we always encourage our patients to schedule a consultation at our office with Dr. Cox, and learn more about strategies that can be used to overcome anxiety without sedation.
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