Sedation Dentistry in Galloway, OH

Many people have some fear of the dentist—and this is perfectly normal. Even most dentists don’t particularly enjoy having their own teeth worked on. For a lot of people in Galloway, OH this fear is so strong that it prevents them from getting in to see a family dentist regularly, and small problems that are simple to solve turn into larger problems that require more time and money to fix.

Many people who have put off seeing the dentist for 10, 20, or even 30 years often have been putting up with pain and regret for a long time. They usually know that they need a lot of dental work and often really want to get it done but feel their hands are tied by the fear they feel.

We don’t want dental fear to keep people from getting the dentistry they need—and deserve! Dental sedation at our Galloway, OH dental office is a real lifeline for people that need long or complicated dental procedures or that have a lot of anxiety about seeing the dentist. Luckily, sedation dentistry is offered right here in Galloway, OH at Galloway Smiles, the office of Dr. Josh Halderman!

There are several different types of sedation dentistry in Grove City, OH available to make you more comfortable including:

• Nitrous Oxide Sedation (“Laughing Gas”)
• Oral Sedation (Taking a Pill)
• IV Sedation
• Deep Sedation (General Anesthesia)
• I’m in—What’s Next?

All of the sedation options have their place—the one you choose depends on the procedure you need, how anxious you feel, your general health, and your budget.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation (“Laughing Gas”)

Many people had an experience with laughing gas at the dental office as a child but aren’t aware that it can be really useful for adults as well. At our family dentist in Galloway, OH, we use laughing gas all the time for routine dental procedures like fillings, root canals, and extractions. For most people, nitrous oxide “takes the edge off” and makes your appointment seem shorter than it is.

You’ll be awake and will remember most of the details of your appointment but you just won’t care about it as much. The nitrous oxide will put you into a relaxed state, so you won’t be all that concerned about what is going on around you.

As with all of these options, we still use plenty of numbing medication, so the benefit of the gas is that you usually aren’t as bothered by the noise or the vibration/pressure of what we’re doing for you. Once the appointment is over, we turn off the gas, and it leaves your system. Although you may feel a little tired, you’re able to drive yourself home and go about your day. You can return to work or school, just as you normally would after a dental appointment.

In the rare event that you don’t like how the nitrous oxide feels, we simply turn it off and it wears off within a couple of minutes.

Oral Sedation (Taking a Pill)

There are several medications with a long safety record that help people with anxiety get through their day. A few of these are particularly good for dental appointments with your Galloway, OH family dentist that may last a couple of hours. You simply take a pill when you arrive at our office, and by the time we bring you back, it usually starts to take effect. The feeling is often a little stronger than laughing gas, but still in a pleasant way.

You will stay awake and be able to talk with us, but often you won’t remember all the details of the appointment. For this reason, you’ll need to be sure to line up a driver to take you to the office, stay for your appointment, and bring you home afterward. While you’re usually pretty alert by the end of your appointment, some of the effects last the rest of the day so you’ll need to stay home from work and avoid driving. Don’t plan on making any important decisions that day or doing anything else too responsible.

The next day, you can go back to your normal routine. The only real downside to this type of sedation dentistry at our Galloway, OH dental office is that we won’t know what dosage works best for you until we try it the first time. If it’s not quite as strong as you’d like, just let us know. We can dial in the dosage for your next appointment.

IV Sedation

This option is what most people think of when they have a colonoscopy. It's often used when removing wisdom teeth or several teeth at once.

As the name implies, the medication is delivered intravenously (through your arm or hand) to relax you. While the other options so far are more about reducing anxiety, this is the first one that can truly be called “sedation.” The goal is to keep you sedated lightly and comfortably, so you’re still breathing on your own but not too aware of what’s going on around you.

Afterward, you’ll usually feel groggy. Just like with taking a pill, you’ll need to line up an escort to drive you to and from the appointment and will need to clear your schedule for the rest of the day. Just plan to relax until the medication fully leaves your system. The next day you can go back to school or work.

Deep Sedation (General Anesthesia)

This is what most people think of when they think of anesthesia in a hospital setting. When you need this type of sedation, you’ll be referred to a specialist, such as an oral surgeon, who receives extensive training in providing this option safely. You’ll be sedated deeply enough that you won’t have any recollection of the procedure. This is a great option for extensive procedures or for people who have tried the other forms of sedation dentistry in Grove City, OH and still felt anxious.

The cost is higher than the other sedation dentistry options offered by our Galloway, OH dental office, but when it’s really needed most people feel afterward that it was worth it! This is particularly true for those who may have been putting off needed dental treatments for many years.

I’m in—What’s Next?

We can help if fear is holding you back. If you think you’d be interested in sedation for some or all of your dental treatment, please call our Galloway, OH dental office, and we’ll be happy to go through all of your options. We never want dental fears to keep you from taking care of your oral health. Sedation dentistry at our Galloway, OH dental office means you can be comfortable while getting the dental treatment you need.