If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes you anxious and afraid, you are not alone! Dr. Bateman and his compassionate staff understand. More importantly, they have solutions: intravenous IV sedation, oral sedation, and nitrous oxide and oxygen, or a combination of oral and nitrous oxide sedation together. For young children or patients that don’t do well with anything less than general anesthesia, a board certified anesthesiologist will provide the anesthesia and Dr. Bateman will provide the dental work.
The more relaxed a patient is during their dental visit, the more comfortable and successful their dental experience will be. Don’t let fear keep you from having a healthy, beautiful smile.
There are four ways that Dr. Bateman administers sedation medication:
IV Sedation
This method of sedation safely puts you into a tranquil state of mind, meaning you will feel removed from what is actually going on and have virtually no memory of your treatment once it’s finished. Dr. Bateman is authorized by the State Dental Board to administer deep IV sedation.
- Works well for moderate to high anxiety
- Helps remove memory of any pain or discomfort
- Has a rapid onset
- Is effective for most patients
- Is safe and easy to monitor
Oral Sedation
Oral Conscious Sedation has a sedative effect and also some degree of amnesic effect for most people. Patients remember little or nothing about their dental appointment.
- Works well for mild to moderate anxiety
- Helps remove memory of any pain or discomfort
- Is easy to administer: just swallow a small pill!
- Is effective for most patients
- Is safe and easy to monitor
- Is low cost
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen, also known as laughing gas, is simply a gas which you can breathe in. It has no color, and doesn’t irritate.
- Works well for mild to moderate anxiety
- Prevents feeling any pain or discomfort
- Results in an euphoric feeling
- Has a rapid onset
- Has a fast recovery time
- Has very few side effects
The great thing about Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen is that you can drive yourself to and from your dental appointment, and return to normal activities immediately.
Oral and nitrous oxide combination
Also combining the effects of oral sedation drugs along with nitrous oxide gas can work for those who are at a moderate to high anxiety level. When using only one of these agents alone does not achieve the desired level of sedation, then this combination may work.
