Conscious Sedation

General, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry & Snoring & Sleep Apnea Specialists located in Houston, TX

Conscious Sedation services offered in Houston, TX

Anxiety around visiting the dentist is nothing new, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with it alone. At The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas, Ginger Rome, DDS, Laura Santo Salvo, DDS, and the team offer conscious sedation to help patients of all ages relax and unwind. Conscious sedation is fast-acting, safe, and non-invasive. Call the dental clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

Conscious Sedation Q & A

What is conscious sedation?

Conscious sedation uses inhalant medications to help patients relax in the dental chair. Whether you or your child feel anxious about visiting the dentist or need extensive dental work, conscious sedation allows your family to get the care they need without pain or discomfort.

Nitrous oxide is the most common form of conscious sedation. Also called laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a colorless and odorless inhalant. It includes 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen. When you inhale nitrous oxide, you feel relaxed and lightheaded. Inhaling this medication can help take your mind off of your dental procedure.

How does conscious sedation work?

Inhaling nitrous oxide uproots the oxygen in your lungs and stops it from reaching your brain, which results in mild deprivation. As a result, you may feel:

Giggly
Relaxed
Calm
Euphoric
Dizzy

The main goal of conscious sedation is to take your mind off your dental visit. The moment you stop inhaling nitrous oxide, its effects wear off.

What are the benefits of conscious sedation?

Nitrous oxide offers many benefits over deeper forms of sedation, such as:

Fast-acting

Once you inhale nitrous oxide, it starts working immediately. Many patients feel its effects within minutes of inhaling the gas. Nitrous oxide wears off just as quickly without many lasting effects.

Injection-free

Nitrous oxide is one of the most comfortable forms of conscious sedation. Unlike intravenous (IV) sedation, it requires no injections.

Low-risk

Because nitrous oxide’s effects dissipate quickly, there’s a far lower risk of overdose than other forms of sedation. It’s the only type of sedation that allows you to drive yourself home after your visit.

What can I expect from conscious sedation?

Administering nitrous oxide is simple. Once you’re comfortable in the dental chair, the team places a mask over your mouth or nose that allows you to inhale the gas. You can control how much nitrous oxide you inhale, and the team monitors you throughout the entire procedure. After your appointment is complete, you remove the mask.