Sedation Dentistry in Phenix City

We’d love it if all of our patients felt as enthusiastic about dentistry as we do, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. Whether it’s because of a bad experience with a previous dentist, a fear of medical procedures, or it’s been a while since your last appointment, dental anxiety is common and nothing to feel embarrassed about. Our compassionate team will do everything we can to make your appointment with us a comfortable experience, including providing local anesthesia and nitrous oxide gas when needed.

These local anesthetic injections numb a targeted area prior to your treatment by preventing your nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. While you’ll feel a pinch when the anesthetic is injected, nerve blocks are highly effective and have little-to-no side effects or risks. We use dental nerve blocks for all dental treatments that are likely to cause pain.

Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is widely used for sedation dentistry because it starts taking effect in minutes and wears off just as quickly once the mask is removed. Nitrous oxide will help you feel calm and relaxed during your procedure; it doesn’t impact your ability to feel pain, so it’s used in conjunction with dental nerve blocks. Nitrous oxide is a good choice for patients who are anxious about their appointments. Some patients experience a heavy feeling in the limbs, lightheadedness, and nausea with nitrous oxide, but serious side effects are rare. Because nitrous oxide wears off quickly, you’ll be able to drive yourself home from your appointment.

Dental nerve blocks wear off in the teeth after two to three hours, while it takes three to five hours for numbness in the lips, tongue, and soft tissues to completely resolve. The anesthetic is metabolized by the body, so it slowly fades over time.

We use a topical anesthetic gel to numb the area we’re injecting, but you’re still likely to feel a pinch as the nerve block is placed.

Dental nerve blocks have very few side effects. The most common is soreness at the injection site once the numbness wears off.

Yes, nitrous oxide is a safe, mild form of sedation. Any side effects are temporary and typically wear off within minutes. These include lightheadedness, nausea, a heavy sensation in the limbs, sweating, and headaches.

No, nitrous oxide is used to relieve anxiety, not pain. We use nitrous oxide in conjunction with a dental nerve block to ensure that you’re comfortable and relaxed.

Most patients don’t need laughing gas when getting cavities filled, but if you have dental anxiety, that’s certainly an option that’s available to you. Because nitrous oxide has very few risks involved, it’s safe to use for any dental procedure.