Sedation Dentistry

Dr. Koch prescribes an oral sedative for the patient to take approximately one hour before their scheduled appointment. During the procedure, Dr. Koch and staff monitor the patient to ensure their safety and comfort.

Because sedation dentistry requires patients to take an oral sedative, patients are required to have someone they know and trust to bring them to the appointment and drive them home following the procedures.

While patients are under conscious sedation, they are completely relaxed and unaware of the dental procedures taking place. After the procedure, patients are encouraged to spend the day relaxing while the dental sedation wears off.

Dr. Koch recommends sedation dentistry for patients who:

• have a fear of the dentist
• experience jaw pain or have TMJ
• have a strong gag reflex
• have physical limitations such as back or neck pain

Because sedation dentistry provides complete relaxation to the patient, including muscle relaxant properties, Dr. Koch recommends this sedation for patients who experience personal or uncommon concerns.

There are a number of medications used for sedation dentistry, including nitrous oxide administered through a small breathing mask. At Koch Aesthetic Dentistry, we use oral sedatives for our patients. During your smile analysis, Dr. Koch will review the available medications for sedation, as well as their side effects.

Absolutely! Any patients receiving sedation dentistry at our comfortable dental office in Birmingham, Alabama, are closely monitored throughout their procedures to ensure their safety and comfort.

While many patients report that they often don’t remember their procedures, there are no long-term memory issues or health problems once the procedure is complete and the sedation wears off.

Yes! Our patients report complete relaxation during their procedures, with most reporting that they don’t remember their procedures at all.

The cost for sedation dentistry depends on a variety of factors. If Dr. Koch recommends sedation dentistry for any reason, our experienced office staff will review the cost for the recommended treatments during your initial visit.

It’s important to remember that each person’s insurance coverage is different. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will review the payment options and treatment plans during your visit to determine whether or not your insurance will cover the recommended procedures and treatments.