Sedation Dentistry

We use advanced sedation dentistry for a wide variety of in-house services. Our goal is to ensure you are comfortable, calm and relaxed through any dental treatment or dental procedure. Our team will work closely with you to assess what fears you may have and determine a treatment option that feels comfortable for you.

The Purpose of Dental Sedation

Dental sedation refers to a procedure that is designed to reduce physical pain associated with treatment or, more often, to reduce the anxiety you’re experiencing. This helps you feel more relaxed while dental work is being completed and, typically, makes the experience must more pleasant and efficient for you.

picture of woman in dental chair receiving sedation while dentist works on mouth
  • What is laughing gas and what does it do?

    Nitrous Oxide, commonly referred to as Laughing Gas, is a mild sedative that can help reduce your anxiety. It will not put you to sleep. It’s colorless and odorless. It is incredibly safe and useful because it starts working quickly and can be reversed safely just as fast. There are also very few reasons that would keep you from getting it. We even offer it for cleanings!

  • What type of sedation and anesthesia are used for dental work?

    The most common types of anesthesia and sedation used (in addition to Laughing Gas) are local anesthesia, oral (pill) sedation, and IV sedation.

    • Local anesthesia is a numbing medication that is injected directly into the area that is to be treated—usually near the gums around the tooth being treated. Local anesthesia does not affect your mental state or make you sleepy.
    • Oral (pill) sedation is a deeper level of sedation than Laughing Gas, but also very safe. You take a pill approximately one hour before your procedure begins so by the time the dentist begins working, you feel much more relaxed. This is a service we offer, so ask us about how you can make your visit a more pleasant experience!
    • IV sedation produces an even more profound level of sedation that usually leaves no memory of the actual procedure. It’s typically used for more intensive appointments like full mouth dental extractions, multiple dental implants, major bone grafting, or other surgical procedures. If you feel like you need this option, then please talk to us.

More Questions?

If you have more questions about dental sedation and the procedures used by TexSmiles Dental, please contact our office and we will be happy to discuss further.