Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Sedation dentistry in Tulsa
If anxiety is the reason you have not been to a dentist, sedation is a normal request here and not an unusual one.
Sedation makes dental treatment comfortable for people who find it difficult, whether that is because of anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, difficulty sitting still for long periods, or simply a bad experience somewhere in the past.
Dr. Hanna completed a one year general practice residency in sedation and oral surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center. Sedation is a routine part of how this office works rather than something arranged specially.
Nitrous gas
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is breathed through a small mask over the nose. It takes effect within minutes and leaves you relaxed while still awake and able to talk to us.
Its main advantage is how quickly it clears. Once the mask comes off you return to normal within a few minutes, so you can drive yourself home and go back to work. Patients use it for everything from a cleaning to an extraction, and it is a good starting point if you have never had sedation before.
Oral sedation
For heavier anxiety or longer appointments, oral sedation is a prescribed medication taken before your visit, usually the evening before and again on the morning of the procedure.
It produces a much deeper level of relaxation, and most patients remember very little of the appointment. It has to be arranged in advance, and you will need someone to drive you both ways, because the medication takes hours to wear off.
Not sure where to startCall and describe what is going on.
Call (918) 205-7458Deciding what you need
Your medical history and medications are reviewed first, because they affect what is safe. Dr. Hanna will recommend the lightest option that will get you comfortably through the appointment.
Sedation is also not the only tool. Nitrous, a therapy dog, blankets, iPads, and simply being told what is about to happen before it happens all help, and many patients find they need less sedation than they expected once the office is somewhere they trust.
What sedation costs
Nitrous gas is charged per appointment and is generally modest, because it uses very little material and no extra time. Oral sedation costs more, since it involves a prescription, a pre-appointment assessment, and a longer booking with monitoring throughout.
Dental insurance treats sedation inconsistently. Cover is more likely where sedation accompanies surgical treatment such as extractions or implants, and less likely for a routine cleaning, though some plans will consider it with documented dental anxiety. Our team will check before you book rather than after.
Whatever your cover, you will be told the figure in advance. Nobody should discover the cost of being comfortable on the way out.
Preparing for a sedation appointment
For nitrous gas there is very little to do. Eat something light beforehand rather than arriving on an empty stomach, which reduces the chance of feeling queasy, and you can drive yourself home afterwards because it clears within minutes of the mask coming off.
Oral sedation needs planning. You will be given instructions on when to take the medication, usually the evening before and again on the morning of the appointment. You must have an adult to drive you both ways and, ideally, to stay with you for a few hours afterwards. Do not drive, work, or make decisions that matter for the rest of the day.
Bring a full list of your medications and supplements to the consultation, including anything over the counter. Several common medicines interact with sedatives, and your medical history decides which option is safe for you.
Anxiety is not the same as needing sedation
Plenty of anxious patients find they need less than they expected once the office is somewhere they trust. Being told what is about to happen before it happens, agreeing a signal to stop at any point, and booking the first appointment of the day so there is no waiting room time all help.
The comfort menu covers the rest, including a therapy dog, blankets, and iPads. Tell us when you book that you are anxious, and the appointment gets planned around it.
Common questions
The questions patients ask us most about this treatment, answered plainly.
Will I be unconscious
No. Both nitrous gas and oral sedation leave you conscious and able to respond. Oral sedation goes considerably deeper and many patients remember little afterward, but you are not put under general anaesthesia here.
Can I drive myself home
After nitrous gas, yes. It clears within minutes of the mask coming off. After oral sedation you must have someone drive you both ways, because the medication takes several hours to wear off.
Is sedation available for a routine cleaning
Yes. Nitrous gas is commonly used for cleanings, particularly for patients with a strong gag reflex or anxiety. Ask when you book so it is ready.
Book your appointment today
Call the office and we will find you a time that works.