704 NE Evans Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
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Does just the thought of going to the dentist cause a chill to run down your spine? Have you avoided much needed care for years because of dental-related fear? If so, you’re far from alone, and the team at Evans Street Dental is ready to help with sedation dentistry in McMinnville, OR. Using the safe and proven techniques outlined below, we can make even the most anxious patient feel calm during their visits. On top of this, Dr. Ramsay is well-known for her gentle touch that enables most patients to remain completely relaxed even without sedation. To learn more about all the ways we can take the stress out of your dental care, contact us today.
Need just a little help during your dental visits to feel at ease? If so, then nitrous oxide sedation may be perfect for you. With this, all a patient has to do is breathe in a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small mask placed over the nose. Within minutes, a person will feel warmer, happier, and slightly numb all over. This helps the appointment fly by, and once the mask is removed, a patient will feel completely normal right away. Most patients are excellent candidates for nitrous oxide sedation, so don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Ramsay about it at your next appointment or over the phone.
Nitrous oxide is the lightest and gentlest form of sedation dentistry, making it a great choice for practically any patient. Children, teens, adults, and even older adults can benefit from the soothing sensations of nitrous oxide sedation. It’s commonly used to help patients who:
Using nitrous oxide sedation is easy and stress-free. Once you’ve settled into the examination chair, we’ll place a small mask over your nose. Within just a few minutes of breathing the odorless, colorless gas, you’ll feel a light, airy sensation wash over you. Some people feel tingling in their fingers or toes, and some may begin to find little things very funny. This is where nitrous oxide earns its nickname “laughing gas!”
You’ll remain conscious throughout your appointment with nitrous oxide and will be able to respond to our basic instructions and questions. However, you’ll be completely oblivious to the sights, sounds, and other sensations that would typically bother you. Your body’s ability to register pain will be suppressed as well, and some patients feel so comfortable that they drift off to sleep during their treatment! Our team will monitor your vital signs closely, and we’ll be able to adjust your level of sedation at any time to ensure you are as comfortable and safe as possible.
There are virtually no side effects from nitrous oxide sedation! Once your procedure is over, we’ll remove the nose mask. Within minutes, you’ll return to your normal level of alertness. You’ll even be fine to drive yourself home and continue on with your day without any interruption. Some patients, mostly children, feel slightly nauseous after using nitrous oxide sedation, but this feeling should be minimal and pass on its own very quickly.
For more severe dental anxiety, we can help you start feeling better even before you step foot in our dental office. Dr. Ramsay can prescribe you medication to take at home on the day of your appointment that will make you completely serene from head to toe by the time you sit in the dental chair. You’ll remain awake, but the appointment will seem to flow by in just a few minutes, and you’ll likely have little to no memory of it afterward, almost making it seem like a dream. Read on to learn more about oral conscious sedation and whether it’s right for you!
In the simplest terms, oral conscious sedation is essentially a form of sedation dentistry that is taken in the form of a pill, such as Valium, Halcion, Ativan, or a similar prescription medication. There’s no need to wear a facial mask to inhale your sedative nor receive an injection; all you need to do is take the pill either once you arrive at our office or just before your appointment time. The medication usually takes about 15 minutes to kick in on average. Because the sedative’s effects are long-lasting, you can expect to feel calm and comfortable during your entire visit.
You’ll need to plan in advance to have a friend or family member drive you to and from the practice as you won’t be able to drive yourself anywhere for the rest of the day after taking oral conscious sedation. You should feel deeply calm and at ease after taking the sedative, but still able to receive commands from our dentists and express your comfort levels during your procedure. In most cases, patients do not remember most of their appointment. Our team will closely monitor you throughout the entire procedure to ensure your safety from start-to-finish.
Because oral conscious sedation is stronger than nitrous oxide, it’s generally recommended for those with more moderate levels of dental anxiety. Additionally, we may recommend for those who have:
Practically any patient can be a good candidate for sedation dentistry, however, not all sedation options are good choices for every patient. Factors like your age, health, and medical history will influence which type of sedation dentistry is right for you. To determine which type of sedation would be the most effective for you, we’ll need to see you for a consultation. Once we’ve evaluated you and reviewed your medical history, we can make a recommendation on which type of sedation dentistry would be best for you.
When administered by an experienced professional like Dr. Ramsay, sedation dentistry is incredibly safe. Before we recommend dental sedation, we do a thorough review of your medical history and current medications to discover if there may be any negative reactions. When sedated, our team will monitor you closely at all times to ensure you are as comfortable and safe as possible. With nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation, we’ll be able to adjust your level of sedation at any given time throughout your treatment.
Dental sedation does not put you to sleep, nor does it knock you unconscious. However, many patients have little to no memory of their treatment afterwards, making it appear as if they had been put to sleep. Patients undergoing nitrous oxide sedation or oral conscious sedation may become so groggy that they doze off while we work on their smile, but they can easily be awoken with a gentle nudge. This is much safer than “putting you under” and it provides many of the same benefits.
When you are sedated, you shouldn’t feel any pain at all. You may feel pressure in your mouth from time to time as we work, but it should be completely comfortable. While sedation dentistry is not necessarily a pain reliever, it influences how your body perceives discomfort and makes you oblivious to the sights, sounds, and sensations that would otherwise cause you physical or emotional discomfort.
How long the effects of your sedation last will depend on what type you’re using. Generally, here’s what you can expect: