If you’re someone who gets overly anxious over dental visits, you may feel tempted to skip your next appointment. That’s bad news for your dental health because regular checkups and cleanings every 6 months help prevent problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancer. Thankfully, your dentist knows that some patients have a hard time and so offers different forms of sedation that can keep you calm and comfortable throughout your visit. If you’re worried that this benefit might be out of your price range, keep reading to learn more about what to expect!
What Types of Dental Sedation are Available?
There’s more than one kind of dental sedation that can help you get through your next visit or procedure. Your dentist can recommend one that works for your situation based on the type of work being done and your medical history. If you’re overly anxious about your appointment, you might benefit from:
- Oral conscious sedation. This medication is prescribed and taken as a pill that you’ll swallow before you arrive at your scheduled time. It helps you stay relaxed but conscious throughout your visit so that you can still respond to your dentist but don’t experience discomfort.
- Nitrous oxide sedation. This ‘laughing gas’ can be administered through a mask that’s placed over your nose. It acts quickly and helps soothe frayed nerves. The impact is mild and wears off in mere minutes once the mask is removed.
What Does Dental Sedation Cost?
The exact amount that you can expect to pay for your dental sedation can vary based on the type that’s used and what your dental insurance plan includes. Typically, the amount can range between $200 and $300. This is solely for the medication and doesn’t calculate the expenses for the procedure itself.
Many dental insurance policies help with dental sedation, although they may not cover the entire fee. If you’re not sure what’s a part of your plan, contact your insurance provider and they can let you know. You can also ask your dentist; their friendly staff is familiar with many types of policies and can help you maximize your benefits.
How Can I Make Dental Sedation More Affordable?
If you don’t have dental insurance, ask your dentist if they offer alternative financing. Many providers partner with third-party financers, like Wells Fargo Financing, to allow you to break your payment into more manageable installations. Many of these include low to no interest and don’t have unexpected charges that can take you by surprise.
Your dentist and their team can help walk you through the various factors to give you a better understanding of what you can expect to pay out-of-pocket for your dental sedation.
About the Practice
At RP Dental & Implants, patients benefit from two experts who provide a wide range of services under one roof, including dental sedation. Their goal is to help you improve the quality of your life by rebuilding or improving your smile. Using state-of-the-art technology, they can quickly identify any problems and provide customized treatments to address them. If you’ve been avoiding your appointments because of anxiety, they can help! You’re welcome to request a consultation on the website or by calling (352) 750-0008.