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(936) 427-9070 128 Nacogdoches St,
Center, TX 75935 Conveniently Located on the Town Square
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Sedation Dentistry – Center, TX

Your Comfort Is Our #1 Priority

Relaxed woman with hands behind head

Many patients struggle with feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or even outright fear when faced with an upcoming visit to the dentist’s office. Thankfully, sedation dentistry can help take the edge off these negative emotions and make even the most extensive procedures pleasant and worry-free. At Family Dental Center of East Texas, we offer multiple forms of professional sedation, so patients and families can choose the options that fit their needs best. Please contact us today in Center, TX if you think you may want sedative services for yourself or your child.

Why Choose Family Dental Center of East Texas for Sedation Dentistry?

  • We See Children & Adults
  • Highly Trained & Compassionate Dentists
  • Safe, Hospital-Based Sedation at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Patient with nitrous oxide nose mask

Most people know nitrous oxide by a funnier name – laughing gas! This mild sedative technique is completely safe for patients of all ages, and it can do wonders for patients who have been avoiding necessary dental care due to anxiety. If you’re interested in learning all about this calming solution, you can always give our team a call or schedule an appointment. Otherwise, you can continue your research on the topic right here.

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

A wide range of patients are candidates for nitrous oxide, including children, since this sedative is mild, fast-acting, and easy to administer. With that said, it’s commonly used for patients who struggle with dental sensitivity, experience anxiety in the treatment chair, have a fear of needles, or need particularly extensive treatment. As with anything, there are some cases where nitrous oxide isn’t ideal, including patients who are pregnant or have a breathing disorder. During your appointment, we will dedicate some time to learning all about your medical history, allergies, and the like so we can determine if this is the best option for you.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

Nitrous oxide is a mild, but effective sedative that is administered through a nasal mask. After placing it comfortably over your nose, we will administer the gas and, within a few minutes of breathing it in, you’ll feel relaxed and content. Although it won’t put you to sleep, you may feel so comfortable that you doze off. Don’t worry – we can easily wake you if needed. Otherwise, we will let you be while working. Once we’re done, we will switch off the nitrous oxide, allowing you to breathe in just oxygen again.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

One of the biggest benefits of using nitrous oxide is that the effects wear off very quickly after your appointment ends. That means that your treatment won’t interrupt your day with inconvenient downtime – you can even drive yourself home! Naturally, we will give you aftercare instructions for the specific treatment you received. That way, you have the smooth and pain-free recovery you deserve.

Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry

Person taking oral conscious sedation in Center

If the patient needs a stronger form of sedation, oral medication may be the right choice. We’ll prescribe the sedative before your appointment begins and provide instructions on when to take it. While patients will technically remain conscious throughout the experience, it is very likely that they won’t remember much about what took place once they’ve fully recovered. When taking oral conscious sedation, patients need to arrange for a trusted friend or family member to escort them to and from our Center location.

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What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation is a slightly more powerful form of sedation that makes it easier for individuals undergoing multiple procedures to remain comfortable and at ease throughout their appointment. It is delivered in the form of prescribed medication, which is provided by a member of our dental team.






How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

Before your scheduled appointment time, you will be instructed to take the prescribed medication. This will ensure that the medicine begins to work so that you are more at ease by the time you reach our dentist’s chair.

Once our team is satisfied that you are comfortable and unphased by your surroundings, we will begin to administer treatment. Throughout your visit, you will feel completely relaxed and may even start to doze off. However, you will not be fully sedated but instead can be awoken easily to respond to dental cues.

Once treatment is complete, you will be allowed to return home with the help of a family member or friend. There is a good chance that you will want to rest, as it will take time for the sedation to wear off.






Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

When determining whether you are a good candidate for oral conscious sedation, you can expect that our dental team will go over the reason for your request. This may include:

  • You suffer from past dental trauma
  • You have a fear of needles
  • You struggle to sit still because of a physical disability
  • You suffer from a sensitive gag reflex
  • You have moderate dental anxiety and have difficulty with other forms of sedation

We will discuss your current oral and overall health history and determine if any medications you are taking will interfere with sedation.

Children’s Sedation Dentistry

Child in dental chair with nitrous oxide mask

Oftentimes, children simply don’t have the ability to sit still during involved dental procedures, or they may have special needs that make traditional treatment methods too difficult to carry out. Rest easy, parents – Dr. Youngblood can help! All of our sedative options are available for young patients, including hospital-based care at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for careful monitoring and optimal safety.

Learn About Children’s Sedation

Sedation Dentistry FAQs

Is sedation dentistry safe? 

Sedation dentistry is safe for most patients.

The most common method of sedation dentistry is nitrous oxide, because it is the safest option for the greatest number of patients.

Before determining whether to administer sedation, Dr. Youngblood or Dr. Martinez will review your medical history and current medications (both OTC and prescription) to ensure that there will be no negative interactions.

While you are under sedation, your dental team will ensure your safety by monitoring your vitals (including your blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate) the entire time.

Is sedation dentistry safe for kids? 

Sedation dentistry is an excellent option for children who are afraid of the dentist. It can help them relax for long enough to receive necessary care and even lower their risk of having dental anxiety later in life.

While nitrous oxide is the most commonly used form of sedation for kids, oral conscious sedation may also be used if your child has severe anxiety or physical or mental impairments that make dental care uncomfortable or unsafe.

Let your dentist know if your child is taking any medications or if they have any medical conditions during their sedation dentistry consultation.

In some cases, children may have mild side-effects from sedation. Typically, nausea is the only side effect. To lower their risk of this occurring, limit their food and fluids before their procedure.

Following their procedure, it may take several hours before the effects of sedation wear off, so be sure to closely monitor them during this time.

Is sedation dentistry safe while pregnant? 

The medication used in dental sedation may pass along to the fetus through the placenta, and using sedation during the first trimester could lead to problems with development. Furthermore, sedation during the third trimester could encourage premature labor.

Sedation is usually safest during the second trimester; however, most dentists recommend that invasive procedures requiring sedation wait until after pregnancy if possible. Should you require sedation during pregnancy, it is recommended that you use the mildest form possible. Typically, this means nitrous oxide over oral conscious sedation.

Is sedation dentistry safe while breastfeeding?

Most medications your dentist may use in oral conscious sedation have a very low chance of affecting breastmilk, however nitrous oxide is the best option for breastfeeding patients.

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