Pasadena, Texas Sedation Dentistry:
Many people experience anxiety and fear before and during dental procedures. For some the fear is triggered by past memories of a bad dental visit. The patient can have anxiety about receiving a dental injection. Or patients can become claustrophobic once dental treatment begins. No matter the cause of the trigger, Dr. Nugent can help the frightened dental patient. Dr. Nugent recognizes the fear and anxiety of patients is real. This realization has helped Dr. Nugent to become a leader in dental sedation.
In the past dentistry was almost barbaric. Dentist were limited by pharmacological agents and dental materials. Today is truly the golden age of dentistry. Dr. Nugent has numerous methods of sedation options as well as numerous local anesthesia options.
Sedation Dentistry can make you feel like you are in a peaceful sleep.
Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) was discovered in 1772. The first use of Nitrous Oxide as a drug for a patient was by dentist Horace Wells in 1844. Nitrous Oxide is inhaled through the nose. Nitrous Oxide demonstrates many great properties.
- Nitrous Oxide has potent anxiolytic (reduces anxiety) effects.
- Nitrous Oxide is an analgesic (pain killer).
- Nitrous Oxide produces feelings of euphoria.
Laughing Gas is great in that it can be administered to the frightened patient and at the end of the procedure the patient is given 100% oxygen. The oxygen flushes the residual nitrous oxide out. The patient is clear and coherent and able to drive themselves home.
Oral Sedation
Another option is oral sedation. The patient takes pills at Dr. Nugent’s office. Most of the medication Dr. Nugent uses has an onset of about an hour. This oral sedation is more powerful and effective than nitrous oxide. Dr. Nugent uses different drugs in the benzodiazepine family. The trademark effects of benzodiazepines include: sedative (induces sedation by reducing irritability and excitement), hypnotic (induces sleep), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), muscle relaxant and amnesic action (loss of ability to create memories). The safety of benzodiazepines is outstanding. A disadvantage to oral sedation is that the patient will have to have someone drive them home.
For the extremely frightened patient, Dr. Nugent can combine nitrous oxide and oral medication. This combination of drugs is called Conscious Sedation. This level of sedation minimizes pain, discomfort and fear. Patients will still be able to speak, swallow, respond to Dr. Nugent’s instructions and communicate and discomfort they experience. Furthermore, a brief period of amnesia my erase any memory of the dental procedure. Most patients that receive conscious sedation report that their dental procedures were pain and anxiety free and seemed to last only a minute or two.
During conscious sedation patients are monitored on a pulse-oximeter machine. This machine monitors blood oxygen saturation, pulse and blood pressure.
Don’t let fear or anxiety keep you from visiting the dentist. See how Sedation Dentistry can help you. Dr. Nugent is a regional leader in dental care. Visit us at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena Texas 77504.