With sedation dentistry, dramatically reducing dental anxiety, fear, or nervousness becomes a whole lot easier. It’s a great way to get treatments that you’re afraid of but still need. It can even be used to complete several treatments in a single appointment! With that said, you may be wondering what the cost of sedation dentistry can be. To learn more about the most influential factors and why you shouldn’t wait to get care if you have difficulty completing appointments, keep reading.

The Most Important Factors to Keep in Mind

When discussing sedation dentistry with a dentist, it’s important that you recognize how severe your dental anxiety actually is because this will directly determine how powerful the sedative needs to be. Generally, there are three forms of sedation provided in dentistry, none of which are general anesthesia (which is the only method that actually puts you to sleep.) This includes nitrous oxide (or laughing gas), oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation. All three methods have their own unique strengths. The stronger the sedative, the more expensive it will be to implement.

With that said, costs can also be influenced by:

• Location
• Insurance coverage
• The specific rates offered at the practice you visit

Keep in mind that sedation costs are billed separately from your actual treatment. By discussing your needs with the dentist and their team ahead of your procedure, you can better establish if sedation is necessary. If so, your next step should be seeing if insurance will be willing to cover it (or use a third-party financing option if you don’t have a dental plan.)

When Does Dental Insurance Cover Sedation?

If sedation dentistry is needed to complete an essential treatment that protects your oral health, it will be more likely covered by dental insurance. It helps to talk with the dentist and the team member responsible for handling insurance as they will have more knowledge on this subject. Speak with your insurance plan provider as well and get pre-approval if possible.

If you have a medical condition or disability that makes treatment impossible to complete without sedation, you can also increase your chances of getting coverage. Of course, your sedation costs could exceed what your dental plan offers annually, so keep this in mind as you nail down a specific price.

How Sedation Could Hep You Offset Future Dental Costs

Putting off dental care that you need will only put you at higher risk of developing dental problems that could have been avoided with treatment. Not only can you lower your long-term dental costs, but you can also reduce your risk of:

• Severe tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Oral infections
• Dental discomfort and sensitivity

Dental treatments are not easy to complete for some, but its precisely why dentists have made including sedation dentistry into their office a priority. To make sure your needs are met, get in touch with a dentist today!

About Beverly Hills Complete Dentistry

Dr. Kboudi is fully dedicated to creating a relaxing and accommodating atmosphere for patients of all ages and needs. This of course means incorporating multiple strengths of sedation dentistry in-house to ensure those with anxiety or fear can complete the treatments they need to maintain a healthy smile. To learn more about these services, you can contact them through their website.