Sedation Dentist for Special Needs – Grand Prairie, TX
Comfortable, Reliable Dental Care
For patients with physical or intellectual disabilities, receiving quality dental care that’s comfortable and accommodating to their needs can be difficult to find. Our team understands the unique barriers faced by our patients, which is why we have a full, in-house anesthesia team to offer several different types of sedation to make your loved one as comfortable as possible. Depending on the treatments they’re receiving and what would help them feel most at-ease, we offer oral conscious, and/or IV general anesthesia. Plus, each patient is safely monitored by a professional throughout their entire procedure with our sedation team and dentist for special needs in Grand Prairie, TX.
Why Choose Disability Dental Services for Sedation Dentistry for Special Needs?
- Full In-House Anesthesia Team
- Comfortable, Accommodating Dental Office
- Dental Office Modeled After a Surgery Center
Oral Conscious Sedation
For oral conscious sedation, we monitor the patient's vital signs throughout treatment, and the patient is not "put under." However, the relaxing effects of oral conscious sedation often cause drowsiness, so some patients fall asleep of their own accord. The effects of oral conscious sedation will linger for the remainder of the day following a dental visit. After oral conscious sedation, patients may remember little or nothing about their appointment—only that it was most likely a pleasant visit!
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is a medium-ranged method of sedation dentistry that is quite popular for its effects. Similar to other versions of dental sedation, the medication will help patients experience a more comfortable and relaxing visit while undergoing treatment and without putting them to “sleep.” In some instances, it can be much safer than options like general anesthesia. Your loved one will remain just conscious enough to listen and respond to simple commands or instructions during their appointment, but they won’t even be aware of any sensations that could normally cause them to feel discomfort or anxiety.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Once our team has determined that your loved one is eligible for oral conscious sedation, we’ll then prescribe them with a single dose of medication that they’ll need to take before their scheduled appointment. Generally speaking, they’ll likely have to take the liquid or pill sometime before arriving at our office so that the effects can kick in right when it’s time to start the treatment. Most patients will feel like their limbs are heavy, or time has sped up, or like they’ve fallen asleep. Fortunately, a gentle nudge will be enough to wake them back up.
Rest assured our team will be there to constantly monitor our patient’s vitals throughout their visit. In the end, you can expect your loved one to have an incredibly pleasant experience while sitting in the dental chair for a long period, and their dentist will even be able to complete the treatment much quicker. After we’ve finished the procedure, we’ll provide you with aftercare instructions before being able to take your loved one home to get plenty of rest. The effects of the sedative should wear off after a few hours.
Is Your Loved One Eligible for Oral Conscious Sedation?
With oral conscious sedation, our team can help patients who struggle with a variety of issues, such as those who:
- Struggle with dental fear or anxiety
- Experience neck, back, shoulder, or jaw pain while sitting in the dental chair for extended periods
- Feel scared or nervous before their appointment
- Suffer from a powerful gag reflex or sensitive teeth
- Plan to undergo lengthy or complex procedures
While beneficial for many, oral conscious sedation may not be beneficial to patients who have obstructive sleep apnea, struggle with nasal congestion, or have certain health problems. That’s why our team will evaluate your loved one’s situation and medical history to see if this form of sedation dentistry will be effective and safe for them.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia uses both inhaled and IV-administered sedation to render a patient unconscious so they can have a completely comfortable procedure and not remember any aspect of it once the effects wear-off. Our in-house anesthesia team will be responsible for administering the sedation and monitor your loved one’s vitals to ensure their health as our team works quickly and effectively to restore the health of their smile. This form of anesthesia will make sure that patients don’t feel any sensation or are able to respond to outside stimuli during their treatment.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Rest assured, sedation dentistry is considered quite safe for the vast majority of patients. Our experienced team will monitor you or your loved one carefully throughout treatment, and will be sure to review your health history beforehand. We might ask questions like:
- What medications or supplements, if any, are you or your loved one currently taking?
- Have you or your loved one had any negative reactions to medication in the past?
- Do you or your loved one have any known allergies?
- Are you or your loved one prone to nausea (we may be able to provide anti-nausea medicine if so)?
Dr. Ford has been providing dental sedation for patients with special needs for several years, so he knows how to determine which option will be the best (and safest). Don’t hesitate to voice any questions or concerns during your consultation, and trust our highly experienced team to take good care of you!
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist?
Oral conscious sedation provides a deep sense of relaxation. Some patients say that they feel “heavy,” and others become so drowsy that they actually fall into a light sleep during treatment. Time may appear to pass more quickly, and in many cases, the patient only has a hazy memory of their visit.
For general anesthesia, you or your loved one will be completely unconscious. Patients tend to remember the seconds just before “going under,” but then it’s as if they simply woke up and nothing happened. Of course, our team will have been caring for your loved one’s smile and ensuring their safety the whole time!
Is sedation dentistry covered by insurance?
We find that most dental insurance plans do provide at least some coverage for sedation dentistry if the patient has special needs. However, the fine print can be tricky.
Under “normal circumstances,” dental sedation is often considered to be a “luxury” treatment that’s not strictly “medically necessary.” But it can become “medically necessary” if it would be exceedingly difficult for the patient to receive dental care without it. What dental insurance companies consider to be “exceedingly difficult” can be confusing, and they might require documentation before they’ll approve any coverage. If you’re not sure about your benefits, it may be best to contact your dental insurance provider directly.
We do accept CareCredit financing, so if you’re worried about being able to afford sedation dentistry in Grand Prairie, please let us know!
How long does dental sedation last?
Both oral conscious sedation and general anesthesia can cause significant drowsiness for hours after treatment, even if the majority of effects wear off. As such, it’s important to make sure that you have reliable transportation to and from our office if you’ll be receiving dental sedation, and to keep an eye on your loved one if you’re the “designated driver.”
In either case, you or your loved one might experience some soreness once the grogginess fades, so make sure you’re well-stocked with OTC pain relievers!