Sedation Dentistry

The Advantages of Sedation Dentistry

• More Relaxed Treatment – Dental anxiety is extremely common, but sedation can help. Along with helping you stay calmer during the treatment, it can also prevent you from remembering the treatment afterward. Some patients find it easier to visit the dentist regularly if they get sedation.
• Faster Treatment – Sedation prevents you from squirming, which reduces interruptions to your care. This means that we’ll be able to provide you with the care you need more quickly. In some cases, we might even be able to perform more procedures, reducing the number of appointments you need.
• Reduced Gag Reflex – If you have a strong gag reflex, it can be difficult for us to provide the care you need. In these cases, sedation does more than making you comfortable: it can also make treatment possible where it otherwise wouldn’t be.
• Less Squirming – Some patients find it difficult to sit in the dental chair, even if they don’t have anxiety. The reasons for this range from Parkinson’s disease or arthritis to simply being young and not wanting to sit still. Sedation can make for a calmer, more comfortable experience.

Worried About Going to the Dentist?

Dental Anxiety Is Common

Roughly 36% of people have dental anxiety. It’s important to confront this anxiety head on because it can prevent you from going to the dentist regularly.

Unfortunately, not going to the dentist only makes the problem worse, since regular missed appointments can exacerbate or even cause any oral health issues you may have. These oral health issues can then become more expensive to treat, as well as leading to great discomfort.

Sedation is a great way to prevent this from happening. Let's discuss how we can make your experience at the dentist calm and comfortable.

Anesthesia and Sedation

Sedation and anesthesia are often used together to ensure your comfort. While local anesthetic suppresses any pain you would experience in the area, sedation helps keep you relaxed.

Forms of Sedation

• Oral Sedation – This form of sedation is designed for patients experiencing anxiety. It’s a pill that you can take before your appointment to be relaxed during the appointment. Depending on your anxiety, we may also recommend taking a pill the night before treatment.
• Nitrous Oxide – This form of sedation is delivered through a mask. It’s a light sedative which can help calm your nerves. Typically we use it for simple treatments, like teeth cleanings or extractions. Some patients are more familiar with the term “laughing gas.”
• IV Sedation – IV sedation puts you in a deep state of relaxation, but it doesn’t render you unconscious. You will still be able to respond to any questions you’re asked. Our anesthesiologist will stay with you during treatment to ensure your safety.

General Anesthesia

If you require a large amount of work, such as multiple different procedures during a single appointment, you may be a candidate for general anesthesia. If you are a candidate for this anesthesia, our anesthesiologist will stay with you throughout the procedure to ensure both your comfort and your safety.

Who’s a Candidate for Sedation?

In order to be a candidate for sedation, you should be in good health. We’ll also want to ensure you haven’t had bad reactions to the sedative in the past.

How Children Benefit from Sedation

We understand that some parents are worried about their child receiving sedation or anesthesia. That said, they can make a major difference for some patients. If we recommend sedation for your young one, it is because it will have a significant, positive impact on their oral health. Our anesthesiologist is highly qualified and experienced. They will ensure the safety of your young one during the procedure.

Sedation Aftercare

• Oral Conscious Sedation – Once you have taken the pills, you will feel their effects for the next several hours. You should not resume daily activities until the following day.
• Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous oxide has the fastest recovery time for any form of sedation. 15 minutes after the mask is off, you should be perfectly able to resume daily activities.
• IV Sedation – Once you’ve received IV sedation, you will need to wait 24 hours before you’re able to resume daily activities. That said, you should be feeling close to normal within the first six hours.
• General Anesthesia – Patients frequently experience nausea or sometimes vomiting after getting general anesthesia. This typically does not last long. That said, you will need to wait 24 hours before resuming day-to-day tasks.

Can You Drive After Sedation?

If you took nitrous oxide, you will likely be able to drive yourself home after a short period of time. Patients taking other forms of sedation will be unable to drive themselves home.