By the team at Mark Bilello, DDS
Dr. Bilello is a general dentist in Houma, LA. At Mark Bilello, DDS you can choose from four comfort options: numbing injections, laughing gas (nitrous oxide), oral sedation with a prescribed pill, or oral sedation combined with laughing gas. You talk through your worries with him first, and he suggests the option that fits you. Your vital signs and comfort are monitored whenever laughing gas or sedation is used.
The whole team shares Dr. Bilello’s ultra-conservative approach: keep your natural teeth healthy and do only the work you need.
Which comfort options can you choose from?
You can choose anything from numbing alone up to the deepest level of sedation the office offers. Use this table as a starting point for your talk with Dr. Bilello. It is not a recommendation.
| Option | How it is given | How you may feel | Driving afterward | Who it may suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local anesthetic | A small injection near the area being treated | That area goes numb; you stay fully alert | Usually; ask the team | Visits that need numbing, if you feel calm enough without sedation |
| Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) | Breathed through a small mask over your nose, adjusted for you | Calm and relaxed; some people feel light-headed or tingly (ADA) | It wears off within minutes, so most patients can drive | You want to relax but get back to your day |
| Oral sedation | A prescribed pill | Drowsy and relaxed; you may not remember much | No. You need a ride home, and no driving or work until the next day | You feel very nervous and can take the rest of the day off |
| Conscious sedation (pill plus laughing gas) | The prescribed pill plus laughing gas before and during treatment | Deeply relaxed, but awake and able to respond | No. You need a ride home and rest for the day | The deepest level offered here, when Dr. Bilello thinks it fits |
Is sedation right for you?
Sedation can help if fear keeps you away from the dentist, but it is not right for everyone. The ADA says your procedure, your overall health, your allergies and your anxiety level are all weighed when an option is chosen (ADA).
Before any sedation, tell Dr. Bilello (MedlinePlus, NIH):
- if you are pregnant or could be pregnant
- every medicine you take, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements and herbs
- any allergies
- any health conditions you have
If sedation is not a good fit, you still have choices. The ADA suggests telling the front desk you are nervous when you book, agreeing on a hand signal for a break, and bringing headphones if the sound of the drill bothers you (ADA). Numbing can also be used on its own.
What happens at a sedation visit?
A sedation visit starts with a conversation and ends with a planned ride home when you need one.
- Talk first. Share your worries, your health history and your medicines. Dr. Bilello then suggests an option.
- Ask how to prepare. Ask the office how to prepare for your option, including whether you can eat or drink beforehand, and follow those instructions.
- Plan your ride. For oral sedation or conscious sedation, arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home.
- During treatment. Your vital signs and comfort are monitored. With laughing gas you breathe normally through your nose, and you should start to feel it within a few minutes (ADA).
- Going home. If you had a pill, your ride takes you home.
If this is your first appointment, our guide to your first dental visit explains what to bring.
How will you feel afterward?
How you feel afterward depends on the option you chose.
- Local anesthetic: the numbness wears off after your visit.
- Laughing gas: the effects wear off soon after the mask comes off (ADA). Most patients can drive and go back to their day.
- Oral sedation: you may feel drowsy for the rest of the day. Tingling or warmth is normal. Do not drive or work until the next day.
- Conscious sedation: you may not remember the appointment. Rest for the rest of the day, and go back to your normal routine the next day.
After this kind of sedation, some people feel sleepy, have a headache or feel sick to their stomach (MedlinePlus, NIH). Call the office if anything worries you.
What are the risks of sedation?
Every sedative has risks, so your health history matters. If someone gets too much sedative medicine, their breathing can be affected, which is why patients are watched closely during treatment (MedlinePlus, NIH).
Laughing gas is meant to relax you, not to put you to sleep (ADA). Numbing, laughing gas, oral sedation and coping tips are all alternatives to one another. Ask Dr. Bilello which risks apply to you.
What technology will you see at your visit?
The office uses digital tools that let you see what Dr. Bilello sees. They support his biomimetic approach: saving as much of your natural tooth as he can.
- Digital X-rays show detailed pictures of your teeth, roots and jaw on a screen beside your chair. Dental X-rays use very low doses of radiation, and they can show damage that is not visible during an exam (ADA).
- DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection helps find cavities and early weak spots in enamel (demineralization), so Dr. Bilello can offer a more conservative treatment.
- iTero digital scanning takes a 3D scan of your teeth.
- Smile previews show a predicted result of a smile makeover or Invisalign treatment before you decide. Read about digital smile previews, cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics.
- A soft tissue laser is used to reshape the gums. In many cases no stitches are needed. Dr. Bilello explains what to expect while your gums heal.
What affects the cost of a comfort option?
Your cost depends on the comfort option, the treatment you need and how long the visit takes. Ask about cost when you call to schedule. The office offers financing through CareCredit. See general and restorative care for the treatments these options are used with.
What if you have a dental emergency?
If you are a patient of the practice and have a dental emergency, call the office at (985) 872-9470. The team will tell you what to do next. If a tooth is knocked out, read what to do for a knocked-out tooth while you call.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be asleep during sedation?
No. Laughing gas is not meant to put you to sleep, and with conscious sedation (the oral pill plus laughing gas) you stay awake and can answer Dr. Bilello’s questions. With oral sedation or conscious sedation you may feel very drowsy and may not remember much of the visit afterward.
Can I drive myself home after laughing gas?
Usually, yes. Laughing gas wears off within a few minutes after the mask is removed, so most patients can drive and get back to their day. If you also take a sedative pill, you cannot drive. You need a ride home and should not drive until the next day.
Do I need a ride after oral sedation?
Yes. After oral sedation or conscious sedation, a responsible adult must drive you home. You should not drive or go to work until the next day. With conscious sedation, plan to rest for the rest of the day and go back to your normal routine the next day.
Can I eat before my sedation appointment?
Ask the office when you book. What you can eat or drink beforehand depends on the option you choose. If you are unsure, call the office before your appointment instead of guessing.
What should I tell Dr. Bilello before sedation?
Tell him about every medicine you take, including supplements and herbs, any allergies, your health conditions, and whether you are or could be pregnant. Also tell him what worries you most about dental visits, so he can suggest the option that fits you.
Are digital X-rays safe?
The ADA says dental X-rays use very low doses of radiation, so the risk of harmful effects is very small (ADA). They can show problems a visual exam cannot. At this office the pictures appear on a screen beside your chair, so you can see them too.
Talk to us about a calmer visit
If dental visits make you nervous, say so when you call (985) 872-9470, or request an appointment. We are at 399 Bayou Gardens Blvd, Houma, LA 70364, open Monday to Thursday, 7 AM to 3 PM, and closed Friday to Sunday. Learn more about Dr. Bilello’s training at the LSU School of Dentistry, the Pankey Institute and the Frank Spear Mastery Workshops on our About page.
Sources
Read 2026-10-30.
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Anesthesia and Sedation. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/anesthesia-and-sedation
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas). https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/nitrous-oxide
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: X-rays. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/x-rays
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: 3 Ways to Stop Fearing the Dentist. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/anxiety
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH): Conscious sedation for surgical procedures. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007409.htm
- Mark Bilello, DDS: Patient Comfort page (live text, read 2026-10-30).
