How much does sedation dentistry cost?
Sedation dentistry rockford illinois is an excellent tool for patients and dentists alike! Dental treatment is vital to your overall health so if you suffer from some form of dental-related anxiety, speak with your dentist to see if there is a sedation option available to you that can help you and your treatment.
Types of Dental Sedation
Depending on your degree of anxiety, different types of sedation may be suitable for different treatments. Patients who need extensive treatment will benefit from a more extreme form of sedation than patients who need help enduring a routine dental cleaning. Below are the types of sedation dentistry.
- Oral sedation is a popular type of sedation administered in pill form. Patients are given a dose 30 minutes to an hour prior to their appointment. Oral sedation is usually a benzodiazepine such as Diazepam, Valium, or Xanax. These medications put the patient in a relaxed state and do require local anesthesia to manage pain during dental work. If your dentist does not keep medication in the office, they will give you a prescription for one dose that you can have filled at your pharmacy. A local anesthetic is a minister to the area being worked on so that the patient does not experience any pain.
- Nitrous oxide gas is inhaled by the patient and induces a state of relaxation. The effects are immediate and a local anesthestic is administered for pain management during dental treatment.
- Intravenous or intramuscular sedation is administered through a vein or through the shoulder muscle and puts the patient in the state of twilight during treatment. IV or IM sedation takes some time to wear off so patients need to have a friend or family member available to escort them home from their appointment. Local anesthesia is administered for pain management.
- General anesthesia puts the patient into a state of unconsciousness. Local anesthesia is not necessary since the patient is completely asleep and will not feel pain. This option also requires a friend or family member to get the patient home after their appointment.
How much does sedation dentistry cost?
Each office will have its own fee schedule for varying types of sedation. Oral sedation can cost up to $300 depending on what type of medication as prescribed and what type of prescription drug coverage you have with your insurance. Nitrous oxide costs between $150 and $375 per appointment. IV sedation and general anesthesia are both administered by a dental anesthesiologist and are billed hourly.
Financing Options for Sedation Dentistry
Sedation options are not usually covered by dental insurance but if you need assistance covering your out-of-pocket cost, your dental office can submit a claim to your medical insurance to see if they will cover anything. A lot of offices offer in-house financing or work with a third-party financing company like CareCredit.
If you suffer from a form of dental anxiety or from a medical condition that keeps you from remaining still during treatment, you may be an optimal candidate for sedation dentistry. Speak with your dentist to see what types of sedation they offer and decide what type would be best for you.