Relax in Comfort: How to Prepare for Sedation Dentistry

Preparing for sedation dentistry is simpler than most people expect. Share your full health history and medications, choose the option that fits you and your treatment, arrange a ride if you are having oral conscious sedation or sedation for surgery, and plan to take the rest of the day easy. With laughing gas, you can even drive yourself home. A little planning is what lets you relax in comfort on the day.

This guide from the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS walks through the practical side of a sedation visit: what to do before you book, a preparation checklist, what happens on the day with each option, and how to recover afterward. If you are still deciding whether sedation is for you, start with the benefits of sedation dentistry.

Before you book: choosing the right option

The practice offers three forms of sedation, and the right one depends on your needs and on the dental treatment you are having.

• Laughing gas is breathed through a comfortable nasal mask, eases anxious feelings within seconds, is adjusted throughout treatment and is offered as a complimentary service. You should feel fully alert right after and can drive yourself home.
• Oral conscious sedation is a pill taken the morning of treatment, usually about an hour before your appointment. You stay conscious but calm, the effects last several hours, and you need a ride.
• IV sedation provides deep conscious sedation for lengthier or more complex treatment, and the practice works with local anesthesiologists when needed.

Sedation is often discussed alongside treatment that people find hard to face, such as tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, root canals and longer restorative appointments. The best place to decide is a relaxed, no-pressure consultation. Tell the team what makes dental visits hard for you, and together you can choose the form of sedation that suits you. See the full overview of sedation dentistry.

Your sedation preparation checklist

1. Share your complete health history. Tell the team about medical conditions, allergies and past reactions to any medication, even if they seem unrelated to your teeth.
2. List every medication and supplement you take. Bring the names and doses, including anything taken only occasionally.
3. Talk about what worries you. Needles, gagging, sounds or a past bad experience: saying it out loud helps the team plan around it.
4. Ask about the plan and the cost. The options and any costs are explained at your consultation, before anything begins, so you are not deciding in the chair.
5. Arrange your ride. If you are having oral conscious sedation, someone needs to drive you to and from your appointment. The same applies after sedation for surgery.
6. Clear the rest of your day. Oral sedatives and sedation for surgery can stay with you for several hours, so avoid planning work, errands or childcare duties that need you alert.
7. Complete your forms ahead of time. New patients can fill out paperwork online before the visit, so there is less to think about when you arrive. See new patient information.
8. Dress for comfort. Loose, comfortable clothing makes a longer appointment easier to settle into.

On the day: what each option is like

A laughing gas visit

You arrive as usual, and once you are settled in the chair the nasal mask is placed. The gas flows steadily, and within seconds anxious feelings begin to ease. Most people describe feeling somewhat giddy or euphoric, but not “out of it.” If you feel you need more or less, the flow is adjusted throughout treatment. When treatment is finished you should feel fully alert, and you can drive yourself home.

An oral conscious sedation visit

On the morning of treatment you take the prescribed pill, usually about an hour before your appointment, as directed by the team. Your driver brings you in. The sedative slows the central nervous system enough to bring on calm, relaxed feelings, while you remain conscious and able to respond. Oral sedatives have been used at the practice with great success. Afterward your driver takes you home, because the sedative stays in your system for several hours.

An IV sedation visit

IV sedation is given intravenously and provides deep conscious sedation. It is reserved for lengthier or more complex treatment, and the practice works with local anesthesiologists when needed. Your specific instructions for the day, including arranging a ride, are covered at your consultation.

Comfort in the chair

Sedation is one part of a calm visit. The Timonium office is a warm, spa-inspired space designed around your comfort, with paraffin wax hand treatments, calming aromatherapy and a Nespresso station. Each treatment room is equipped with technologies that help the team complete treatment quickly and efficiently, and every room is cleaned and sterilized after each patient. Take a look around on the office tour.

A few other touches help anxious patients, too. Air abrasion removes small areas of decay quickly and quietly, with no heat, pressure or vibration, and the iTero Element scanner creates a 3D image of your teeth in about 2½ minutes, with less tendency toward gagging.

After your appointment

How you recover depends on the sedation and the treatment.

• After laughing gas: you should feel fully alert right away and can drive yourself home.
• After oral sedation or sedation for surgery: the effects may stay with you for several hours. Do not drive or operate machinery until they have worn off, and take it easy for the rest of the day.
• Memory: the medications used for sedation during surgery help reduce your memory of the procedure, so it is normal not to recall every detail.
• Numbness: if an anesthetic was used, your lips, tongue and cheek may be numb for several hours. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness wears off, since it is easy to bite or burn yourself.
• Wisdom teeth: bring a family member or friend to help you, and a post-operative check is usually booked for about a week later.

Follow the post-op instructions for your specific treatment. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, swelling that continues for 2–3 days or a reaction to medication, call the office immediately.

Sedation dentistry in Timonium, MD

The practice serves Timonium, Towson, Pikesville, Baltimore and the surrounding communities. The office is in Timonium Green at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, with a parking lot off Greenspring Dr, so tell the person driving you to take the very first left into the lot. Dr. Haywood has over 35 years of experience helping patients feel comfortable in the chair. Ask about the practice’s “sedation for life” program at your consultation.

Paying for your care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome. Financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

When do I take the oral sedation pill?

Usually on the morning of treatment, about an hour before your appointment. Follow the exact instructions the team gives you.

Can I drive myself home after laughing gas?

Yes. Immediately after treatment you should feel fully alert and able to drive yourself home safely.

Will I remember the procedure?

With laughing gas you stay alert. The medications used for sedation during surgery help reduce your memory of the procedure.

Can I go back to work afterward?

After laughing gas, most people can carry on with their day. After oral sedation or sedation for surgery, plan to rest, because the effects can last several hours.

What if I still feel nervous during a laughing gas visit?

Tell the team. The flow of laughing gas is adjusted as needed throughout treatment.

Plan your sedation visit in Timonium

If you would like to relax in comfort through your next dental appointment, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399 to talk through your options. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093.