Dental Sedation in Mission Viejo CA

Dental Anesthesia Options

If you need to have dental work completed, we recommend visiting a sedation dentist. At EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo, we offer sedation dentistry for patients living in and around the Mission Viejo area. We understand that for millions of adults, visiting the dentist can be an overwhelming or frightening experience due to dental anxiety. This common condition typically starts with a negative experience or becoming fearful of the general idea of dentistry. While common, you do not have to be concerned about visiting our dentist’s office because we can ensure your comfort the entire time.

What to Know About Sedation Dentistry

When you schedule an appointment with us, let us know if you have dental anxiety so that we can prepare for your visit accordingly. For many people, the actual procedure is not uncomfortable but it is the anxiety and worry that causes angst. With this in mind, we often prescribe an oral sedative or laughing gas that can be administered prior to the appointment to help a person relax. While this is not a pain killer, it eases the fear and relaxes the body so that you can remain peaceful while having teeth cleaned, or dental work performed. While the dosage is different, laughing gas can be used on both children and adults so that all of our Mission Viejo patients can remain comfortable.

We are proud to offer a full suite of professional and safe anesthetic services and care for every dental treatment that we provide in our state-of-the-art facility. We know that fear and anxiety are real problems that keep people from getting the care they deserve, so we want to set your mind at ease as we use advanced technology to provide you with the more comfortable and safest dentistry possible.

For adults, children, and those with special needs, we offer all forms of sedation with all procedures, including:

• Extractions
• Implants
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Composite Fillings
• Root Canals
• Cracked Teeth
• Cleanings

What is Used For Dental Sedation?

As your top dentist in Mission Viejo, CA, we offer the following sedation options to ensure the most comfortable care possible.
• Local anesthetics
• Nitrous oxide
• IV sedation
• General anesthesia
• Oral sedation

Types of Sedation Dentistry

There are various levels and types of sedation. During your consultation, we will discuss the recommended procedure with you along with any anxieties you may have. At that time, a recommendation will be made for the type of sedation you may want to consider. The ultimate decision is up to you based on how you believe you will handle the procedure. In many cases, our patients simply need to relax and prefer to use laughing gas in order to do so. It is quick, effective, and wears off when the procedure is finished without impairing any other bodily functions. Some patients use this to relax when getting their teeth cleaned since there is no actual pain associated with the treatment.

Localized Medication and Nitrous Oxide

When a cavity is being treated or other minor dental work performed, patients may prefer to use a combination of laughing gas and localized pain medication. After numbing the surface of the gums, we can inject pain medication that numbs the area that is being worked on. As a sedation dentist, this is an effective tool for us to prevent and eliminate any discomfort. We can administer as much medication as is necessary throughout the course of the treatment, and only that specific area will remain numb. The benefit of this type of sedation is how localized it is. For example, if a cavity is being treated on one side of the mouth, the other side will remain fully functional. This way you can eat immediately after the treatment while the numbing effect wears off the other side.

IV Sedation

If a more intensive procedure is required, patients may prefer IV medication for a more thorough effect. When sedation is administered through this means the numbing effect is more pervasive and not confined to that one specific area of the mouth. It is extremely effective and as a sedation dentist, we find that many of our patients request this type of medication because they want to ensure that they do not feel anything while having dental work performed. If this is the case, the effect can still wear off fairly quickly after the treatment is over, but we do recommend having a friend or family member drive you home just in case.

Sleep Dentistry

For those needing oral surgery, total sedation may be necessary or preferable. This is often referred to as sleep dentistry because a patient is put to sleep and will not remember anything from the procedure. As a sedation dentist, we find that this is an excellent solution when a patient is getting a full smile makeover. When the majority of teeth are being worked on, the procedure can take a significant amount of time. We need to do dental work with precision and that requires not rushing through the procedure. With that in mind, our Mission Viejo patients may find it difficult to hold still when the treatment lasts longer than an hour or two. Going to sleep is a much better option because your body will naturally remain still, you will feel comfortable and not remember what took place during the treatment.

If this is your preferred method of sedation dentistry, we will monitor you carefully during the treatment and afterward to ensure that the anesthesia wears off as it should. You will also need to have someone drive you home and may feel slightly sluggish for the remainder of the day. These types of procedures typically call for rest and relaxation anyway, so take it easy at home before resuming normal activity the next day.

Looking for a Dentist Offering Sedation?

If you live in the Mission Viejo area and are interested in visiting a sedation dentist, call EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo Phone Number (949) 364-3724 to schedule your appointment. At EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo, we will take the time to get to know you and understand what all of your concerns are prior to making a formal recommendation as to the type of sedation dentistry that you should consider. We will also need to know if you have any other health issues, risks, or are allergic to anything. Typically, if you have responded well to pain medication or sedation in other medical treatments, you will do well with sedation dentistry and not experience any negative side effects. Still, if you have questions or concerns be sure to discuss them with us. With any type of dental work, it is important to be well informed and make a decision that you feel is best for your health and your goals. As such, we want you to be an informed and educated patient. Thanks to modern technology, if you are afraid of having dental work done or visiting the dentist in general, you no longer have to be. As a sedation dentist, we can ensure that your experience is a positive one. Call EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo Phone Number (949) 364-3724 for more information or to get started.

Free from Anxiety

If you have been avoiding the dentist because of fear and anxiety, Dr. E. M. Makhoul has a solution to help you remain calm and comfortable during your dental treatment. “Conscious sedation” dentistry allows you to enter a state of deep relaxation while Dr. Makhoul performs your dental treatment.

Conscious sedation (often called sleep dentistry) may be the right choice for you, if you identify with any of the following:

• You fall somewhere between a little afraid to terrified of getting dental care.
• You gag easily so you avoid dental visits altogether.
• You are uncomfortable with keeping your mouth open as long as is needed for dental work.
• The sounds and smells of a dental office make you feel nervous and anxious.
• You are too busy for multiple dental appointments.

Call EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo Phone Number (949) 364-3724 to arrange your sedation dentistry consultation. We are here to give you the red carpet treatment you deserve from your dental care. If you’ve been putting off years of dental work, Dr. Makhoul’s conscious sedation dentistry will change your life!

Gentle Dental Care

When it comes to eliminating pain and anxiety, no other technique comes close to conscious sedation. Imagine being able to accomplish all your dental care in as little as one or two relaxing appointments.

“I do not like going to the dentist. My anxiety is high. When it came to the point I needed more than routine dentistry, Dr. Makhoul helped me get through the process. His years of experience, dedication, and passion for dentistry got me through the crowns, root canals, and gum surgery I needed. His team including all of his office and referrals of doctors were without a doubt the most professional and sensitive to my particular needs. His calm manner and and good sense of humor make going through this process a little more comfortable, feeling that I am not doing this alone. Dr. Makhoul made my outgoing personality even bigger with the complete confidence of a perfect smile. I don’t know how I can ever repay his kind gestures, guidance, and true ability to make someone smile. Thank you!”
– Joe P., San Clemente

At EM Makhoul DDS - Dentist of Mission Viejo, we understand that your fear of the dentist may have kept from seeking treatment. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since your last dental exam. We’ve handled many different cases of dental anxiety. We can help you!

FAQ About Dental Sedation

What is Sedation Like At the Dentist?

Local Anesthetics
Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine and carbocaine, are the most common form of anesthesia in dental procedures. They are administered directly to the surgical site to numb the tissue so that you do not feel any pain. For some minor procedures, a local anesthetic is all that is generally needed to get the job done.

Nitrous Oxide
Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and administered through a breathing mask. This causes you to be conscious but relaxed during the procedure. Laughing gas provides some pain-relief but is not comprehensive. It is used in conjunction with local anesthesia for total pain control.

IV Sedation
IV sedation is very comfortable and doesn’t involve a lengthy recovery phase like general anesthesia. With twilight sedation, our patients are awake, or drifting in and out of sleep, for the procedure but comfortable, calm, and may have no memory of the surgery when it’s over. This type of sedation is administered through an IV in our office and can be reversed at any time with an antidote. It is a safe and very effective way to perform procedures on patients who have anxiety about surgery.

General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is the ultimate in sedation and therefore recommended for the very complex, more advanced procedures. It is the preferred choice for some conditions that don’t otherwise allow for adequate local anesthesia.

Is IV Sedation Better Than General Anesthesia?

After all is said and done, they are equal:
For many reasons, IV sedation is better than anesthesia, and for many other reasons general anesthesia is better. The preference usually lies in the type of dental treatment and the medical condition of the patient. So the answer to this question is that one size does not fit all.

Both methods are safe in the hands of the experts and patients who have had one or the other in our office will not have any treatment done without it.

How Much Does Dental Sedation Cost?

The average fee for I.V. or general sedation is $500-$600 per hour and most insurance plans do not cover dental sedation, but we know the importance of checking your plan and making sure of the details before moving forward with your procedure. We consider it our job to help you navigate your insurance plan, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We make every effort to keep you informed of all costs upfront while ensuring you get the most comfortable care possible.

If you have any concerns about an upcoming procedure, please give us a call. We are here to answer any questions you may have and to guarantee the best experience possible