Sedation Dentistry

Get a Relaxing Dental Experience

Do you need dental care, but are too scared to see a dentist? Do you need a complex dental procedure but are afraid of spending that much time in the dentist’s chair? You may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry.

Also known as “sleep dentistry,” sedation dentistry is a game-changer that can change how you feel about going to the dentist. In this modern approach to dentistry, your dentist uses medication to help patients just like you relax during dental procedures.

What is Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety is a real thing! You may have dental anxiety if you experience any of the following signs or symptoms when you go to the dentist:

• Fast or racing heartbeat
• Sweating
• Feelings of panic or distress
• Fainting
• Sleeplessness the night before your appointment
• Canceling dental appointments, even though you are in pain or in need of dental work

Dental anxiety is more common than you might think.

Feeling anxious before a dental appointment is perfectly natural. After all, a dentist has to be in your personal space to perform dental procedures, and some dental procedures can be uncomfortable. 

Sedation Dentistry for Complex or Lengthy Procedures

While sedation dentistry is highly effective for people with dental anxiety, it is also helpful for those who have to have a complicated or especially long dental procedure. Sedation helps patients tolerate the procedure better.

Your dentist may recommend sedation for the following dental procedures:

• Root canal therapy
• Tooth extraction
• Placement of dental implants

Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?

Sedation dentistry may be right for you if you:

• Experience dental anxiety
• Are afraid of needles and/or shots
• Are worried about gagging
• Experienced a traumatic visit to the dentist in the past
• Struggle with the sights, sounds or smells of a dentist's office
• Have overly sensitive teeth
• Have trouble getting numb
• Need a complex or especially lengthy dental treatment
• Feel self-conscious about having dental work
• Desire a more comfortable dental experience

Personalized Sedation Solutions to Fit Almost Every Need

Dental care is not one-size-fits-all: each patient we see has their own needs and desires when it comes to the health of their teeth and gums. This is especially true when it comes to sedation dentistry - some patients benefit from light sedation, while others need deep sedation. 

Fortunately, several types of sedation are available. Each works in a slightly different way to help promote relaxation and comfort during your dental visit. What’s more, one type of sedation may be right for one procedure, but another type of sedation might be best for a different procedure. Your dentist can help you determine which is best to help you feel relaxed and comfortable during any procedure you may undergo.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide sedation makes dental treatments less stressful and more comfortable. Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide produces a state of relaxation throughout your treatment. 

You inhale nitrous oxide through a mask. A member of your dental team will gently place a mask over your nose and mouth then ask you to breathe deeply. Your anxiety will disappear within a few short moments, replaced by a pleasant sense of relaxation. The sedating effects last until we remove the mask and the medication leaves your body, which means there is a short recovery time and very little grogginess.

Compared with other forms of sedation dentistry, nitrous oxide presents the fewest risks and side effects. 

Depending on your needs and desires, we can administer nitrous oxide for a variety of treatments, from regular cleanings to more advanced procedures. 

IV Sedation

IV sedation is administered through an intravenous (IV) needle. Our dentist gently inserts the IV line into your arm. This IV line delivers a steady flow of medication that keeps you sedated throughout treatment.

We will place an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth to help you breathe well. We’ll monitor your vital signs and status throughout your sedation, and adjust your dosage as needed to keep you comfortable.  

With IV sedation, you will have no memory of your treatment when you wake up. IV sedation is best for those with extreme dental anxiety. 

Oral sedation

Oral sedation comes in a pill that makes you feel drowsy. We provide the prescription pill to you, along with instructions. Generally, you will take the pill before you come in for your appointment. 

Oral sedation is best for those who are uncomfortable with nitrous oxide or IV sedation. It may take the rest of the day for the sedation to wear off. 

Sedation dentistry can change how you feel about going to the dentist. For more information about sedation dentistry, contact our dentist. We have the training, expertise, and equipment to provide sedation dentistry to help you face your next dental appointment comfortably.

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