Sedation Dentistry – Port Charlotte, FL
Helping You Stay Calm
at Our Dental Office
At Caring Way Dentistry of Port Charlotte, we know how important oral health is to your overall health. We are passionate about providing dental care to everyone and not allowing fear to be a barrier to a healthy smile. By incorporating conscious sedation dentistry into our Port Charlotte, FL dental office, our dentist can help all our patients achieve the healthy smiles they deserve.
Sedation dentistry is for people who fear or anxiety at the dental office as well as those that have a hard time sitting still for long periods, have a hard time getting numb and staying numb, or have a sensitive gag reflex made it impossible to have dental treatment in the past.
Sedation can be used for treatments as simple as a filling or more complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. The introduction of sedation dentistry has allowed patients who have avoided the dentist for years to receive the dental care they need.
Why Choose Caring Way Dentistry of Port Charlotte for Sedation Dentistry?
- Relaxing, Welcoming Environment
- Gentle, Empathetic Team
- One Stop for Comprehensive Care
Oral Conscious Sedation
Dr. Villescas offers conscious sedation in the form of a prescription pill to patients who suffer from dental anxiety. This will put you in a relaxed state and may even make you fall asleep. It has an amnesic effect, so you’ll have little to no recollection of your appointment. We can also combine this sedation with our painless single-tooth anesthesia delivery system, called The Wand®, to make sure you remain 100% comfortable throughout your procedure.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Instead of needing to breathe in gas or have an IV administer medication, oral conscious sedation comes in the form of a prescription pill that will help you relax. Typically, the medication is in the diazepam family, like Valium, and the effects take place within minutes after taking it.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation is administered in the form of a single pill. Before your visit, Dr. Villescas will send in a prescription that you’ll be able to pick up at your local pharmacy. Our team will provide you with more detailed instructions, but typically, we advise patients to take the pill about an hour before the treatment. This way, you’ll arrive at our office feeling relaxed and at-ease. Because the effects will kick-in before you arrive and can linger for up to several hours after your treatment, it’s important for you to have a trusted friend and family member planning to drop you off and pick you up from your visit.
Who is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Not everyone is a good candidate for oral conscious sedation in Port Charlotte. However, our team will consult with you to find out whether you can benefit from this service. Typically, we recommend this method of sedation for those who:
- Are afraid of needles and don’t want to have a face mask over their nose.
- Have mild to moderate fear or anxiety surrounding visiting the dental office.
- Require a lengthier or more extensive treatment.
- Have decreased sensitivity to local anesthesia.
- Suffer from extreme tooth sensitivity.
- Have an overly sensitive gag reflex that makes dental treatment difficult.
- Have special needs or physical disabilities that make visiting the dentist uncomfortable.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Just like with any medical procedure, not every patient is a good candidate. That’s why our team at Caring Way Dentistry consults with patients about their medical histories and gathers a list of medications they’re taking in order to determine that it will be safe for them to receive oral conscious sedation. By collecting a list of medications you take, we can determine whether any of the drugs will negatively interact with the diazepam that we will prescribe.
Additionally, while you’re under sedation, you’ll be closely monitored by our trained professionals to ensure your safety.
Can I receive dental sedation while pregnant?
Typically, for our pregnant patients, we like to avoid providing dental sedation during the third trimester, as it could encourage premature labor. While sedation tends to be safest during the second trimester, our sedation dentist in Port Charlotte, Dr. Villescas, likes to individually consult with patients to determine their unique risk factors and make sure it will be safe. If you’re pregnant and in need of dental sedation, consult with our team today by giving us a call!
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
Most patients remember very little while under oral conscious sedation, which can be great for those who don’t want to remember any details! In many cases, patients who take diazepam before their visits feel drowsy and may even fall asleep; however, you’ll still remain conscious and have the ability to respond to our team or voice any requests or concerns you may have.
What are the risks of sedation dentistry?
Those who are cleared as good candidates for sedation dentistry have little-to-no risk factors that will make the service dangerous for them. However, some patients may take medications that can negatively interact with the drug we prescribe for oral conscious sedation, which could lead to a number of risk factors. Our team will carefully screen you before providing you with any medications to make sure it’s as safe as possible and determine whether you’re a good candidate.
Is sedation dentistry covered by dental insurance?
In most situations, dental insurance companies do not cover dental sedation because it’s classified as an add-on, or luxury-type service. However, there may be exceptions, like if you have a disability. Our team will help you file claims on your behalf to maximize your benefits and minimize any out-of-pocket costs. If you’re concerned about the expense of dental sedation, but know you can’t visit our office without it, our team can help you navigate other payment options, like financing through Cherry and Proceed.