Sedation dentistry is not only an excellent tool for patients but also for the treating dentist. Dental treatment is vital to your overall health so if you suffer from some form of dental-related anxiety, speak with your dentist to see if there is a sedation option available to you that can help you endure treatment.
Types of Dental Sedation
Depending on your degree of anxiety, different types of sedation may be suitable for different treatments. Patients who need extensive treatment can benefit from a more extreme form of sedation than patients who need help enduring a routine dental cleaning. Types of sedation dentistry include:
* Oral sedation is a popular type of sedation which is administered in pill form. Patients are given a dose 30 minutes to an hour prior to their appointment. Oral sedation is usually a benzodiazepine such as Diazepam, Valium, or Xanax. These medications put the patient in a relaxed state and do require local anesthesia to manage pain during dental work. If your dentist does not keep medication in the office, they will give you a prescription for one dose that you can have filled at your pharmacy prior to your appointment.
* Nitrous oxide gas is inhaled by the patient and induces a state of relaxation. The effects are immediate and a local anesthetic is administered for pain management during dental treatment.
* Intravenous sedation is administered through a vein and puts the patient in the state of twilight, not asleep, during treatment. IV sedation takes some time to wear off so patients need to have a friend or family member available to escort them home from their appointment. Local anesthesia is administered for pain management.
* General anesthesia puts the patient into a state of unconsciousness. Local anesthesia is not necessary since the patient is completely asleep and will not feel pain. This option also requires a friend or family member to get the patient home after their appointment.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
Each office has its own fee schedule for different types of sedation. Oral sedation can cost up to $300 depending on what type of medication as prescribed and what type of prescription drug coverage you have with your insurance. Nitrous oxide costs between $150 and $375 per appointment. IV sedation and general anesthesia are both administered by a dental anesthesiologist and are billed hourly according to the anesthesiologists fee schedule.
Sedation options are not usually covered by dental insurance but if you need assistance covering your out-of-pocket cost, your dental office can submit a claim to your medical insurance to see if it will cover anything. A lot of offices offer in-house financing or work with a third-party financing company.
If you suffer from a form of dental anxiety or from a medical condition that keeps you from being able to hold still during treatment, you may be a candidate for sedation dentistry. Speak with your dentist to see what types of sedation they offer and together, you can decide what type would be best for you to meet your individual needs.