Sedation Dentistry in Nashville
A comfortable experience for every patient.
Our goal is to provide a comfortable experience for every patient. You don’t have to avoid dental care due to fear or anxiety. Our safe and proven sedation dentistry options make it possible to maintain your oral health in a way that works for you.
Our compassionate team listens carefully to your concerns, taking the time to understand your specific needs. We will guide you through your sedation options and help you choose the most suitable method to ensure a relaxed and stress-free experience.
If you are nervous or afraid or anxious at the thought of coming to the dentist or having work done or you avoided coming to the dentist because of anxiety, Sedation Dentistry can truly be transformative in your quality of life, in your health, your smile, it just opens the door for you to have everything you need and everything you’ve been avoiding. There are four main areas of sedation that we can consider when we think about dental work. The easiest is laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is something that you breathe while you’re having work done and it relaxes you, it may make you feel tired or groggy, warm and tingly, people respond differently to it. But, it can be something that relaxes you enough that a minor procedure might not be that bothersome to you. Once we leave that level we actually enter into true sedation options. The first sedation option is Oral Conscious Sedation. It is typically some medicine you will take at home, a pill, the night before your appointment and the morning of your appointment, typically an hour before you get to the dental office. We will then give you more in the procedure as we need to keep you comfortable and relaxed. Some important things to note here is you are not unconscious, you are not being put to sleep. That’s why it’s called oral conscious sedation. But the medicines have an awesome amnesiac effect when they work together. So you don’t remember much of your time in the dental office. So we’re able to oftentimes work on a patient all day long and get everything done they need and they just have a blurred memory of being in the office for a short amount of time. The important thing to also note there is that if something is uncomfortable or you need to use the restroom, things like that, you can communicate. So you’re not incapacitated in any way. You may be groggy, you may go to sleep, but we’re not actually putting you to sleep. When we go to a more deeper level of sedation, that’s where we’re looking at either an IV sedation or a general sedation appointment. If you require no memory being the office at all or even thought of using oral conscious sedation is not something that is comfortable to you we can bring a dental anesthesiologist into the office, they will intubate you, you will be under general anesthesia just like you would be if you were at the hospital having a major operation. So from just a little bit of help to a complete general anesthesia, we’ve got an option available that is safely going to make you comfortable enough to receive the dental care that you need.
What Sedation Dentistry options are available in my area?
Learn more about the sedation options Dr. Ryan Jones and Dr. Caleb Estes of Nashville Restorative dentistry offer their patients:
Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”)
The most commonly used method for calming patients in the dental office is nitrous oxide. Otherwise referred to as laughing gas, it is a gas combined with oxygen and breathed in through the nose while your dental work is being performed. Patients often describe a warm, tingling or euphoric sensation when an ideal level of nitrous oxide sedation is achieved. You remain conscious while breathing laughing gas, although some patients do doze off. Since nitrous oxide is not a drug and does not require metabolization by your body, after breathing 100% oxygen for several minutes following treatment, you are safe to drive and get back to the rest of your day. A driver is not required to bring you or care for you afterwards.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you want deeper sedation than laughing gas can offer, oral conscious sedation may be perfect for you. This approach uses a combination of medications to keep you relaxed during your visit. You will take a combination of sedative medications the night before and an hour before your dental appointment. Upon arrival, we will administer additional medicine in the office as needed to keep you relaxed for the duration of your appointment. An added major benefit is the amnesiac effect the medicines have, which leaves you with little, if any, memory of your time in the dental chair. As the name suggests, you remain conscious during this type of sedation. Although you may snooze, you are breathing on your own and all your protective reflexes are intact. You will be able to communicate with us if anything is uncomfortable or needed (like a restroom break). A caregiver is required to bring you to and take you home from your conscious sedation appointment.
Another frequent use of conscious sedation is for patients looking to accomplish a large amount of treatment at one time. Even if you aren’t anxious about treatment, conscious sedation can allow you to comfortably accomplish a full day of dental work that would otherwise have to be broken up into multiple potentially inconvenient appointments.
General Anesthesia
For patients with significant anxiety or complex dental needs, sometimes a deeper level of sedation is required. When needed, we work with a skilled dental anesthesiologist who comes into our office and administers general anesthesia. You will be fully asleep throughout the procedure, making it an excellent option for very young children, those with disabilities, and patients with high levels of anxiety. It allows us to provide needed treatment in our office and avoid the added expense and inconvenience of a hospital visit for dentistry performed under anesthesia. A caregiver is required to bring you to and take you home from your general anesthesia appointment.
Learn more about our skilled and compassionate general anesthesia provider: Nashville Office-Based Anesthesia.
Do I still have to get a local anesthetic shot for numbing?
Sedation dentistry and local anesthesia serve different purposes. Sedation helps manage anxiety and discomfort, while local anesthesia is the actual numbing used to prevent pain during the procedure. The local anesthetic plan is often not affected by whether or not you are sedated for dental treatment.
Am I a candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
If anxiety has kept you from visiting the dentist, sedation dentistry could make a significant difference in your experience. Whether you need a simple cleaning or a more involved procedure, our sedation options can help you feel calm and comfortable. To find out which type of sedation is right for you, schedule a consultation with Nashville Restorative Dentistry today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses FDA-cleared medications to induce a relaxed and calm state during treatments. It helps patients manage anxiety and fear, even for complex dental treatments. Sedation dentistry doesn’t knock you out completely but instead induces a state of reduced awareness. Deep relaxation may make you feel drowsy or even fall asleep, but you can be easily awakened with a gentle touch.
Who can benefit from Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is versatile and can benefit several individuals. Talk to a sedation dentist if you experience:
- Dental anxiety or fear
- Strong gag reflex
- Difficulty staying still for long periods
- Low pain tolerance
- Inability to numb from local anesthetics
- Undergoing complex or lengthy treatment
Is Sedation Dentistry safe?
Yes, but it must be administered by trained professionals. A trained sedation dentist thoroughly evaluates your medical history and monitors you throughout the procedure to optimize your safety.
Are there side effects of Sedation Dentistry?
As with any medication, it’s natural to worry about the potential side effects of sedation. However, the good news is that side effects after sedation dentistry are mild and usually fade after a few hours. Common side effects include slight headaches, dry mouth, drowsiness, and nausea.
What can I expect after sedation?
Nitrous oxide wears off almost immediately after treatment. Oral conscious sedation may leave you feeling drowsy for several hours or the rest of the day, and general anesthesia will take at least a few hours before you recover fully.
You can drive after nitrous oxide, but oral conscious sedation and general anesthesia require someone to bring you and accompany you home. Your memory of the procedure will depend on the type of sedation used. With oral sedation, most patients have little to no memory of the procedure, while nitrous oxide may result in clear recollection. For general anesthesia, you’ll not remember anything about the procedure.
Does insurance cover Sedation Dentistry?
It depends on your insurance provider. Some plans consider sedation dentistry elective and may not cover it, while others offer coverage if deemed medically necessary. Our team is happy to check your benefits and walk you through your options.
Are you ready to experience Stress-Free Dentistry?
Don’t let dental anxiety hold you back from getting the care you need. Call Nashville Restorative Dentistry at (615) 640-8494 to discuss your sedation options and schedule an appointment. We proudly serve patients in Franklin, Cool Springs, Nashville, Brentwood, and the surrounding areas.
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Nashville Restorative Dentistry
Dr. Ryan M. Jones
Ryan M. Jones, DDS, FAGD, focuses on delivering excellence in dental care and creating beautiful smiles, fighting disease and inflammation, using biocompatible materials, and educating patients about their scope of treatment options. He is an alumnus of Brentwood High School, the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), and the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry (Memphis). He is a graduate and mentor for the Kois Center in Seattle, a world-class post-graduate facility focusing on comprehensive patient care. He has taken the Pikos Institute (Tampa, FL) curriculum, which is focused on advanced surgical techniques. He’s also earned a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) and is currently expanding his digital dentistry and Exocad knowledge in various courses.Dr. Jones is also passionate about providing for the underserved and has taken part in many dentistry-related charity and community projects.
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Dr. Caleb M. Estes
Caleb M. Estes, DMD, FAGD, is a dedicated professional with a strong academic background and extensive postdoctoral education. After graduating from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville and earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the SIU School of Dental Medicine, he has constantly pursued advanced training. He has earned a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry and is a graduate of the prestigious Kois Center. Before joining Nashville Restorative Dentistry, he served in the US Army as a general dentist and a Captain, deploying alongside US and NATO forces to Afghanistan in 2015. He also completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program with the Army during this time.Dr. Estes’ passion is to provide excellence in clinical dentistry and patient care while using the best restorative and preventative materials available. Accomplished in both surgical and restorative dentistry, he finds great fulfillment in transforming smiles and instilling confidence in his patients.
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Feeling anxious about dental work or hoping to comfortably complete more in fewer visits?
At Nashville Restorative Dentistry, our sedation dentistry options allow you to relax through complex or extended procedures, minimizing anxiety and maximizing comfort.
Call (615) 640-8494 to discuss your options.
We are located in Franklin, TN, and serve Cool Springs, Brentwood, Nashville, and beyond.
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Virginia H.
Patient Testimonial
Issue: Severely compromised remaining natural teeth with multiple areas of decay, failing previous dental work, missing teeth, unaesthetically restored lower front implants, and extremely worn and chipped upper front teeth.
Solution: Through a detailed plan of bone grafting, implant placement, and new crowns on the remaining natural teeth – a dramatic restoration of function and cosmetic appearance was possible.
