Do I need a referral for Oral Conscious sedation?
Patients do not have to have a referral for oral conscious sedation at We Care Dental Care. Just give us a call at 540-427-7274 to make an appointment.
Is oral conscious sedation expensive?
Oral conscious sedation will cost more than laughing gas but be far less expensive than general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Patients are often referred to my office because other offices attempted laughing gas, which was not sufficient. This makes oral conscious sedation the most cost-effective way to get the treatment done.
Do I need to go to the hospital for Oral conscious sedation?
No, you do not. We can do this type of treatment in the office.
Does insurance pay for oral conscious sedation?
I have seen a handful of insurance companies pay for a portion of the sedation in my experience. We always submit it to insurance just in case, but we don’t expect insurance to pay. You may hear from your insurance company that “sedation” is covered, but the insurance company usually means general anesthesia in a hospital when they state this. The copay for general anesthesia is often more than the full fee for oral sedation.
Do you provide any financing options?
At We Care Dental Care, we work with Care Credit to provide financing options. This can include 12 months interest-free. We can provide you information for Care Credit to see what you may qualify for.
Can everything be done in one sedation appointment?
Typically yes. When doing this kind of sedation, there are two major limiting factors. The first will be based on the patient’s weight. This will determine the amount of local anesthetic used. For very young and very small children, the amount of local anesthetic I can give may be limited. Time is the second factor. The drugs I used give about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes of working time when the patient will be the most relaxed. If the patient needs a considerable amount of treatment and I can not complete it in an hour, the sedation may be slit into multiple appointments.
If the sedation is split into multiple appointments, what will you take care of first?
I always like to prioritize what is giving the patient pain. I will prioritize the work from most to least important and take care of the most critical items on the first sedation.
How many times have you done this type of sedation?
I have done over 1,300 cases.
How are the drugs given?
The drugs are administered in small syringes and dispensed by the doctor in the office. The sedation drugs are in liquid form, not a pill. A prescription is written for each patient, and all the medication I use comes from a local compound pharmacy.
Is there any other medication given during the sedation?
Your child will also be given nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. This is administered through a rubber nasal hood that sits in front of your child’s nose.
How long before the drug start to take effect?
Around 45 minutes.
Does my child still need to get a “shot”?
The sedation drug is primarily to help with anxiety. To make sure the patient is not in any pain during treatment, a local anesthetic or a “shot” will need to be given. Often, because the patient is so relaxed, they do not notice when we numb them.
How long does this type of sedation appointment take?
I typically block off from 8:00 am to 10:30 am for my sedations in my office. This allows for medication to be given, the medicine to take effect, treatment to be completed, and additional time for notes and clean up. No other patients are scheduled during this time. Dr. Burkitt believes very strongly in only having one patient in the office during sedation so that all of his focus can be on that one patient.
Will my child be able to eat before their appointment?
Your child will not able able to eat or drink after midnight the night before.
How do I know my child a good candidate for oral conscious sedation?
Dr. Burkitt will need to do a consultation to evaluate your child’s medical history, dental needs, and airways. If he determines that sedation is not a good option, he will discuss other alternatives that might be better for your child’s specific needs.
What happens after the sedation appointment?
Immediately after the appointment, Dr. Burkitt will speak with the patients to review everything that was done and any specific after-treatment recommendations. Dr. Burkitt also makes sure to call all his sedation patients in the afternoon to check on them.
FAQs
Coverage is Not Typically Offered for Sedation
This is despite the many benefits that sedation can offer to those with dental anxiety or fear. Because sedation also tends to carry a high cost, they are less likely to provide coverage, especially for more powerful methods like IV sedation.
What should you not do before oral sedation? ›
Eating and Drinking
Any solid food intake must stop 8 hours prior to the appointment. CLEAR liquids (water, apple juice) may be consumed up to 2 hours prior to the appointment. NO MILK or other dairy drinks are to be consumed.
What to expect with oral sedation? ›
During the Procedure
Negative feelings, such as anxiety and stress, fade away after sedation takes effect. You may feel a tingling sensation in your arms, legs, hands, and feet when under oral sedation. This tingling feeling may present alongside heaviness in your limbs, making them feel very relaxed.
Who Cannot have dental sedation? ›
Generally, sedation dentistry isn't recommended for people who are pregnant because some sedative medications can affect fetal development. Nitrous oxide may be given during the second trimester in some cases. But overall, most dentists wait until after pregnancy to administer sedation dentistry.
What is sedation policy? ›
The aim of sedation is to alleviate anxiety for the patient and reduce procedure discomfort. Sedation forms only a part of patient management.
Can you choose to be sedated at the dentist? ›
Fortunately, various sedation and anesthesia options are available to help make your dental visit and treatment more comfortable. From anesthetics that only numb the treatment area to others that help you sleep during your procedure, you've got options!
Can I eat before oral sedation dentistry? ›
It's best not to eat anything for about six hours before the dental treatment. Eating too soon before your appointment can upset your stomach and make you feel nauseous during the treatment. That's not all. The sedatives could also trigger your gag reflex, making it harder for you to receive the treatment.
What is the safest sedation for dental work? ›
Laughing gas (also known as nitrous oxide) is safe for children and adults. This is because you are aware and awake during the procedure. If you have a dental phobia, your dentist may recommend laughing gas to help you relax in the chair.
Is oral sedation dentistry safe? ›
Oral sedation is safe and easy to administer for both adults and children, with no needles being involved! Another advantage is the amnesia effect, in which the patient will have little to no memory of the procedure even though they are consciously awake and able to respond to commands.
Do you feel pain with oral sedation? ›
If a patient is even slightly uneasy about a procedure, oral sedation will make the experience much more tolerable. There is no sense experiencing the pain of any sort when the patient can remain completely comfortable throughout the entirety of the treatment with oral sedation dentistry.
Because you'll be loopy after being put to sleep, arrange for a spouse, family member, or friend to pick you up and drop you back at home. It's best not to drive a vehicle or operate any heavy machinery for up to 24 hours after any sort of dental sedation, just to be on the safe side.
How quickly does oral sedation work? ›
Oral sedation drugs used for children typically begin to take effect within 20 minutes. As a rule of thumb, patients who undergo dental treatment under oral sedation should allow a full 24-hour period for the effects of sedation to completely wear off.
Is oral sedation safer than general anesthesia? ›
Is sedation safer than general anesthesia? Yes, sedation is much safer than general anesthesia. Patients who are under general anesthesia for a procedure are unconscious and require monitoring and respiratory support from an anesthesiology team.
What is the difference between oral sedation and IV sedation? ›
IV sedation begins to take effect within minutes after it is administered. Oral sedation must be taken an hour or more before treatment. Again, with oral sedation, there is no sure way to determine how long it will take to affect your unique physiology.
How long does oral sedation last? ›
The effects of oral sedation can take anywhere from two to eight hours to wear off, depending on the drug. Some drugs that dentists use for oral sedation cause amnesia as well. Patients who undergo this type of sedation dentistry will need a ride home.
Why is dental anesthesia so expensive? ›
IV sedation is the most expensive form of sedation dentistry. The higher costs are due the increased expenses associated with sedation training, credentialing and additional equipment expenses and licensing fees.
Is sedation dentistry worth it? ›
Dental sedation can help you relax and enjoy dental treatments. Low pain thresholds, gag reflexes, and sensitive teeth benefit. Relaxing can reduce dental pain. Amnesia is greatly sought after in sedation dentistry because of its comforting effects.
Does dental insurance cover local anesthesia? ›
According to the American Dental Association, local anesthesia is usually considered part of most treatments. As a result, it should carry no additional charge. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate from your dental office if you'd like to make certain local anesthesia is not considered a separate charge.
Is sedation cheaper than anesthesia? ›
Is Sedation Cheaper Than Anesthesia? In general, yes. Sedation is often more cost-effective than general anesthesia. The pricing can vary based on the type of sedation used and the complexity of the dental procedure.
