Our team always provides our anxious or fearful patients with heartfelt and genuine care. We understand and respect our patients who come to us in hopes of building trust with a new dental team after having a negative experience in the past, and we don’t take your effort and trust in us lightly! We want you to rely on our experts to have a positive experience each and every time you see us, which is why we invest in building long-term, meaningful relationships with our patients in addition to offering sedation dentistry in Goose Creek. To learn more about dental sedation methods that we offer, call our team today.
The Benefits of Choosing
CCD for Sedation Dentistry
Experts in Sedation
Our practice is unique in the fact that we have an on-staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Tim McAdams, who has over 20 years of experience.
A Team That’s Like Family
At Carolina Complete Dental, our team helps patients feel safe, comfortable, and understood, because we treat everyone like we treat our loved ones.
Over 1,000 5-Star Reviews
With over 1,000 5-star reviews from patients all across South Carolina that come to see us, Carolina Complete Dental is trusted by patients statewide.
Comprehensive Dentistry
From regular checkups and cleanings to more extensive services like All-On-4 and cosmetic dentistry, our three expertly trained dentists offer everything you need.
Several Sedation Methods
We offer several sedation methods in-house, including nitrous oxide sedation, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation, depending on your needs.
Great with Anxious Patients
Our team treats our anxious patients with compassion and respect. We strive to become your trusted partners in your oral healthcare journey.
We typically recommend dental sedation from our Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Tim McAdams, in the following situations:
You’re undergoing a lengthy procedure
You have a disability that will make sitting for treatment uncomfortable or difficult
You have had a bad past experience at the dental office that has led you to feel fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist
You have a sensitive gag reflex that makes receiving treatment or cleanings difficult
You require a more extensive procedure, like a tooth extraction or dental implant placement
Before our team recommends any patients for sedation dentistry, we make sure to go through medical histories and collect a list of medications being taken. Based on our screening, we can let you know whether sedation is right for you during a consultation.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is excellent for our older patients who experience dental anxiety. Before your appointment, our team will prescribe you a single pill that you can take, typically a prescription in the diazepam family. By the time you arrive to our office, you’ll feel relaxed and at-ease, making receiving care much easier and more comfortable for you. Because the effects kick-in quickly and wear off after several hours, you’ll need to have a trusted friend or family member ready to pick you up and drop you off from your appointment.
IV Sedation
Our Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Tim McAdams, has over 20 years of experience and specialized training to offer safe IV sedation while one of our skilled dentists completes any needed procedures. The medication will be administered directly into the bloodstream for near-immediate effects that can last for up to 24 hours. We typically recommend this method of sedation for our patients in need of complex or extensive care.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide – or, as it’s sometimes called, “laughing gas” – is the most common type
of sedation used in dentistry. Many patients take advantage of nitrous oxide in order to keep their dental fears and
anxieties under control while in the dental chair. And unlike other sedation options, nitrous oxide wears off
quickly, allowing you to return to your regular routine right away once your appointment is complete!
Who is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide can potentially help you have a more positive experience at the dentist’s office if:
You have mild dental anxiety.
You have a hard time sitting still for extended periods.
You have a stronger-than-normal gag reflex that has interfered with your ability to have dental work performed
in the past.
Your mouth does not get numb easily.
It should be noted that nitrous oxide is safe for the vast majority of patients. That said, it is not typically
recommended for women who are pregnant or individuals who are currently suffering from sinus congestion or certain
respiratory conditions. Our team will need to review your overall health situation before determining whether
nitrous oxide is suitable for you.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
When we’re ready to begin your treatment, we’ll place a small mask over your nose. Said mask will be
attached to a special machine that, when turned on, will release nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. As you breathe in
the sedative, you will enter an advanced state of relaxation; you won’t fall asleep, but you’ll be very
calm and may even experience feelings of euphoria.
Our team will monitor you closely while you’re under the effects of nitrous oxide. Depending on your comfort
levels, we may make adjustments to the level of sedation you’re receiving throughout the procedure.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
Once your treatment is complete, the mask will be taken off your nose. The nitrous oxide should typically wear off
within a few minutes. Until it does, we’ll keep an eye on you to make sure that there aren’t any issues.
After the effects of nitrous oxide have completely dissipated, you should be okay to return to your normal
activities. You can plan on being able to drive yourself home, and you can even head back to work or run any
necessary errands.
It should be noted that you may still need to spend some time resting at home depending on what specific dental
treatment you had performed. Rest assured that regardless of the procedure, our team will always provide you with
clear, easy-to-understand instructions to help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. If there are any unexpected
complications (either from the nitrous oxide or your treatment), please let us know right away.
