Under certain circumstances, some dental procedures may require sedation be used. Some of these instances include bone grafting, wisdom teeth removal, etc. Many of the surgical treatments or procedures will involve sedation. Sedation dentistry is sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry” and involves sedation medication in order for a patient to be asleep during more painful procedures. Depending on the circumstances and the length of the procedure, sedation can cost a pretty penny. Often times, a dental professional will warn you that sedation can be the costlier part of a procedure. Simply because it takes a professional to monitor each patient’s vitals since each person is different and it requires different levels of medication, etc. However, in all actuality, sedation dentistry isn’t as bad as some people think when it comes to cost. The price often depends on the type of sedation used, the brand of sedation medication, and how much will need to be utilized.
Inhalation Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a commonly used form of sedation. This involves a small face mask be placed over a patient’s mouth to where they can inhale the sedation medication. This is a quick acting form of sedation and one of the cheaper routes. Inhalation sedation can cost anywhere from $25-$100.
Oral Medication
Medications such as Valium may be used to sedate patients. This form of sedation involves a pill that is take by the patient ahead of time since it can take a touch longer to kick in and take effect. The cost of this sedation route can range from $150-$500. As with any sedation method, price will depend on your induvial care provider, how much needs to be administered, etc. This is more commonly used with patients who might suffer anxiety while at the dentist’s office since it induces a lighter sleep than other forms of sedation.
IV Sedation
This form of sedation is used when a heavier sleep is needed for the procedure being formed. This type of sedation is the pricier form since this is the type that involves close monitoring of the patient’s vitals during the procedure and requires an exact science foe each patient. The average cost is $500-$700 for IV sedation but, can be as little as $250 and as much as $900. Various factors will determine the final cost.
It’s important to note that most procedures requiring sedation are usually covered by the average dental insurance. However, if you’re needing or wanting sedation pertaining to anxiety during dental visits, this is not commonly covered. So, it’s important to talk to your dental insurance company to see what they will and will not cover before receiving certain sedations outside of that which is necessary for a procedure.
