Sedation Dentistry – Denver, CO
Don’t Worry;
Just Relax
Does the idea of feeling comfortable and at ease during your dental visit sound farfetched to you? Dr. Luke and Dr. Kingsberg want Riviera Family Dentistry to be a dental office where anyone can walk in feeling relaxed and confident about the treatment they’re about to receive. We have three different kinds of dental sedation available, with general anesthesia being offered in certain circumstances. Talk to us today to learn how to put your dental fears to rest with sedation dentistry in Denver, CO.
Why Choose Riviera Family Dentistry for Sedation Dentistry?
- Child-Friendly Sedation Offered
- General Anesthesia Available
- Gentle, Personalized Dental Care
Oral Conscious Dental Sedation
This type of sedation starts working before the treatment itself has even begun. You’ll take a pill ahead of time, usually around an hour before the procedure is set to begin. By the time you’ve arrived (make sure you have someone else to drive you), you should already be in a more relaxed state. By the time the treatment actually begins, all of your worries will have vanished, and you’ll be fully comfortable with what’s happening.
Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation
Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas”, is arguably the most famous form of dental sedation. You just need to breathe in the gas through a special mask, and you’ll soon enter a light-headed, euphoric state. We recommend it for anyone with mild anxiety, sensitive teeth, or a touchy gag reflex. Since it wears off more quickly than other forms of sedation, you won’t have to arrange for someone else to take you home; after a few minutes, you’ll be able to continue the rest of your day as normal.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Have dental fear and anxiety made it difficult or nearly impossible for you to go through with the dental treatment you need? Do you just need a little something to “take the edge off” when getting dental work done? In either case, nitrous oxide in Denver can be a great option for you. It allows you to feel totally relaxed and at-ease while we do what we need to make your smile healthy.
That being said, anxious patients are far from the only ones who can benefit from nitrous oxide. It can also help patients who have:
- Extremely sensitive teeth or gums
- A strong gag reflex
- Trouble sitting still long enough to complete a dental treatment
- Difficulty getting numb from local anesthetic alone
- Negative past experiences at the dentist
- Fear of needles or the dental office environment
While nitrous oxide is incredibly safe, it may not be right for patients with certain medical conditions. These include pregnancy, respiratory disease, and sinus congestion. Some medications may also have negative interactions with the sedative. Before your procedure, we’ll review your medical history and your current medications to determine whether you’re a good candidate for nitrous oxide.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
We administer nitrous oxide through a small mask or cannula that we place over your nose. You’ll inhale this clear, odorless gas and begin to feel calmer within minutes. You might even feel euphoric to the point where you get the giggles – that’s where the nickname “laughing gas” comes from!
The effects of nitrous oxide don’t take long at all to kick in. Once you’re fully comfortable, we can begin your treatment. Our team will closely monitor your vitals at all times so that we can adjust the dosage of the sedative at any moment if need be. Once your sedation dentist in Denver has completed your procedure, we’ll take away the mask or cannula and have you start breathing in regular air again. The warm, relaxed feelings should fade just as quickly as they appeared. This makes nitrous oxide an ideal solution for busy patients who need to get back to work or school after their appointment or who simply wish to drive themselves to and from our office.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
We’ll keep an eye on you for a few minutes after your procedure to ensure that you’re feeling alright. It’s extremely rare for nitrous oxide to have any lingering side effects in eligible patients, but it never hurts to make sure. If applicable, we’ll provide aftercare instructions for your treatment during this time.
In most cases with nitrous oxide, you’ll be able to resume your day as you normally would following your appointment. While most other sedatives we offer leave patients feeling groggy for several hours afterward, nitrous oxide is perfect for relieving mild anxiety without forcing you to sacrifice an entire day.
IV Dental Sedation
If you have been struggling with dental fears that are so severe that they’ve stopped you from getting important dental treatments in the past, IV sedation may be your best option. Once the medication has entered your bloodstream, you will enter a deep state of relaxation. You are unlikely to remember what happens during the procedure and might even fall asleep, although we can easily wake you up so that you can follow our instructions.
General Anesthesia
Some procedures might call for general anesthesia. While the above sedation methods are only meant to relax you, general anesthesia puts you to sleep for the duration of your treatment. We work with a local anesthesiologist who will carefully monitor you throughout the treatment to make sure that you stay safe at all times. General anesthesia is not like regular sleep; you do not dream, and you will only wake up once your care has been completed.