Sedation Dentistry in Houston

As an extensively experienced dentist, Dr. Konig wants to hear about your questions and concerns and help you decide if a sedation method may be right for you. Some of the reasons people seek out relaxation dentistry are:

• Fear of the dentist
• Past traumatic dental experiences
• Sensitive gag reflex
• Physical discomfort when lying in the treatment chair
• Need to have multiple dental treatments completed in one appointment
• Fear of needles, tooth extractions, certain dental tools or certain dental procedures

For many of our patients, sedation has been an effective way to let go of feelings of fear, anxiety, loss of control and other negative feelings that arise in response to dental treatment. Only an experienced and caring dentist like Dr. Konig can determine if oral sedation or IV sedation may be a good fit for you.

The purpose of dental sedation is to make anxious patients more comfortable so they can attend to their oral health needs. With multiple forms of sedation available, it's possible to choose an appropriate method for any dental treatment. If you are highly anxious and find it difficult to see your dentist for exams and cleanings, a mild form of sedation like nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation can be incorporated into your appointment. If you need a more involved procedure like dental implants and it causes extraordinarily high stress or fear, you may receive the most benefit from IV sedation. Your comfort is our goal. Talk to our team about the procedures that you need and how dental sedation can help you feel better than you could ever have imagined.

Yes. Dental sedation can work in a few ways to prevent discomfort during procedures. One way that the sedative works is by reducing stress. When you're stressed and anxious, the chemicals released by the brain can heighten your pain responses. By calming the brain, dental sedation naturally lowers your pain responses. Studies also suggest that dental sedation may work synergistically with the local anesthetic administered to numb the treatment area around a tooth. When the local anesthetic is given to a sedated patient, it may work more quickly and more efficiently than it would on its own. This is why sedation dentistry is often referred to as "painless dentistry."

We have a variety of sedation methods at our disposal. This enables us to meet each patient where they're at in terms of anxiety and preferences. Patients who are mildly anxious or have a strong gag reflex and who want the fastest recovery from sedation may find nitrous oxide the most beneficial option. Patients who want to feel more disconnected during their dental procedure and who don't mind taking the remainder of their day off to rest as their anesthesia wears off may feel most comfortable choosing IV sedation. From nitrous oxide to IV sedation and oral sedatives in between, we have options for sedation that can work for just about every situation.

All forms of dental sedation come with a few potential side effects. The exact side effects and their severity are determined in part by the type of sedation that is administered, how much, and also the unique way in which a patient's body metabolizes the medication. That said, we generally see side effects broken down as such:

• Nitrous oxide side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to giggle (hence, the term "laughing gas"), lightheadedness, shivering or excessive sweating, and headache. There is a chance of nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and feeling faint.
• Oral conscious sedation can result in grogginess, slow reflexes, mild nausea, headache, and dizziness. Some patients who receive an oral sedative do not remember their treatment.
• IV sedation, the type that is administered via a needle into a vein, may incur side effects such as bruising and minor swelling around the insertion point, drowsiness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea, and dry mouth. Short-term amnesia is also a side effect of IV sedation. Most patients do not remember their dental procedure.