Deeper Relaxation for Anxious Patients
For some patients, a little extra help relaxing makes all the difference. If dental visits leave you tense, panicked, or putting off care altogether, oral sedation may help. At Gettings Family Dental, Dr. Nicole Gettings offers oral sedation so patients can feel calm and comfortable through cleanings, fillings, crowns, and other dental treatments.
We welcome patients from Loveland, Mason, Montgomery, Lebanon, Milford, and the greater Cincinnati area. Call (513) 677-3656 to ask whether oral sedation is right for you.
Why Patients Trust Dr. Gettings With Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is only as safe as the screening and care behind it. Dr. Nicole Gettings graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society and received the Richard C. Veler, DDS, and Betty G. Veler Dental Scholarship.
She is also a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, which focuses on the connection between dentistry, sleep, and breathing. That perspective matters with sedation, since conditions like obstructive sleep apnea can affect how safely a patient responds to sedative medication. Before recommending oral sedation, Dr. Gettings takes a careful look at your health history, medications, and breathing concerns so your plan is built around your safety.
What Is Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation uses a prescribed anti-anxiety medication, taken by mouth before your appointment, to help you feel deeply relaxed during treatment. It’s a form of conscious sedation, which means you stay awake, breathe on your own, and can respond to our team. Most patients feel drowsy and calm, and many remember little of the appointment afterward.
Oral sedation is one of the sedation dentistry options we offer, along with nitrous oxide. It produces a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous oxide and is often recommended for patients with more significant anxiety or for longer appointments. It’s used together with local anesthesia, which numbs the treatment area so you stay comfortable.
Is Oral Sedation Right for You?
Oral sedation can be a good fit for many patients. You may benefit if you:
- Feel significant anxiety or fear about dental visits
- Have tried nitrous oxide and still felt too anxious
- Have a strong gag reflex that makes treatment difficult
- Have had a negative dental experience that makes returning hard
- Need a longer appointment or several treatments in one visit
- Have avoided needed care because of fear
Oral sedation isn’t the right choice for everyone. Certain health conditions, medications, sleep apnea, and pregnancy can affect whether it’s safe for you. Dr. Gettings will review your full health history and talk with you about any concerns before recommending it.
What to Expect With Oral Sedation
Knowing what happens at each step can make the whole experience feel less intimidating.
Before Your Appointment
First, Dr. Gettings will meet with you to review your medical history, current medications, and any allergies, and to talk about your anxiety and the treatment you need. If oral sedation is a good fit, you’ll receive a prescription along with clear instructions on when to take it, typically about an hour before your appointment. You may also be asked to avoid eating for a period of time beforehand.
You’ll need to arrange for a trusted adult to drive you to your appointment, stay nearby, and take you home afterward. Please avoid alcohol before your visit, and let us know about any changes to your health or medications.
During Your Appointment
By the time you’re settled in the chair, you’ll likely feel calm and drowsy. Our team will monitor you throughout your visit and check in with you as we work. Once you’re relaxed, Dr. Gettings will numb the treatment area with local anesthesia, which many patients barely notice under sedation. Time often seems to pass quickly, and many patients feel as though a long appointment lasted only a short while.
After Your Appointment
The effects of oral sedation last for several hours, so plan to rest at home for the remainder of the day. Your companion should drive you home and stay with you until you feel more alert. Avoid driving, operating machinery, drinking alcohol, or making important decisions until the next day. Feeling groggy is normal, and some patients have mild nausea, which usually passes with rest and a light snack once you’re ready to eat.
How Much Does Oral Sedation Cost?
Across the U.S., oral sedation typically costs about $150 to $500 per visit, depending on the medication, dosage, and length of your appointment. This is in addition to the cost of the dental treatment itself. Some insurance plans cover sedation when it’s considered medically necessary, but many do not. Our team will help you check your benefits and review all costs with you before your appointment, and we accept CareCredit financing for qualifying patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a nose mask and creates light relaxation that wears off within minutes after the mask is removed. Oral sedation is a pill taken before your appointment and creates a deeper level of relaxation that lasts several hours. Because of that, you’ll need a driver after oral sedation, while most adults can drive after nitrous oxide. Dr. Gettings can help you decide which is a better fit for you.
Many patients remember little or nothing about their appointment under oral sedation. Others remember parts of it but feel too relaxed to be bothered. You’ll stay awake and able to respond to our team throughout the visit. How much you remember depends on the dose and how your body responds to the medication.
Yes. Oral sedation helps with anxiety, but it doesn’t block pain on its own. Dr. Gettings uses local anesthesia to numb the treatment area so you stay comfortable. The advantage is that you’ll already be relaxed when the numbing begins, so most patients find it much easier.
The effects of oral sedation typically last several hours after your appointment. You may feel drowsy or groggy for the rest of the day. Plan to rest at home with a trusted adult nearby, and avoid driving until the next day. Our team will give you specific aftercare instructions before you leave.
Schedule an Oral Sedation Consultation in Loveland
You don’t have to keep putting off the care you need. Dr. Gettings will listen to your concerns, explain your options, and help you decide whether oral sedation is the right way to make your visits more comfortable.
Call Gettings Family Dental at (513) 677-3656 to schedule your appointment with Loveland family dentist Dr. Nicole Gettings. We proudly serve patients throughout Loveland, Mason, Montgomery, Lebanon, Milford, and the greater Cincinnati area.