Sedation Dentistry

If the thought of going to the dentist for a procedure makes you tremble with fear, you are not alone. Many people are fearful or anxious about going to the dentist, but there are ways to calm your fears and put you at ease while at the dentist office. We believe that no one should be prevented from getting the dental care they need due to a fear or phobia of going to the dentist. That’s why we offer a range of sedation dentistry procedures that can help you relax and make your next dental procedure as comfortable, pain-free, and anxiety-free as possible.

At Advanced Dentistry, we offer a variety of sedation dentistry, ranging from mild sedation to heavy sedation, depending on the procedure completed and the level of anxiety the patient has about their impending treatment. Here are several different types of sedation dentistry we provide:

Local anesthetic:

In nearly every surgical procedure, you will also receive a local anesthetic – a numbing medication injected directly into the affected site – to numb the area where your dentist is working and relieve any pain or discomfort.

Minimal sedation:

Patients under mild sedation are awake but more relaxed.

Moderate sedation:

Like minimal sedation, patients under moderate sedation are awake, yet relaxed. Under a moderate level of sedation, however, patients may not feel or remember a large percentage of their procedure and may have problems speaking while sedated.

Deep sedation:

Although awake, patients may remain conscious but not feel or remember any part of their procedure.

General anesthesia:

Under general anesthesia, patients are completely unconscious throughout the duration of their procedure.

In all forms of sedation dentistry, you should be more relaxed and feel less or no pain during your procedure, putting your mind and body at ease during your treatment.

How is sedation dentistry administered?

Sedation dentistry can be administered in several different ways including orally, intravenously or through inhalation.

Inhaled nitrous oxide:

Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas”, is a relaxing gas that is inhaled along with oxygen through a mask placed over one’s mouth and nose prior to a dental procedure. Under this inhaled minimal sedation, patients are able to recover quickly after their procedure and even drive themselves home after their visit.

Oral sedation:

Oral sedation can range from mild to moderate, depending on the dose prescribed. The most common oral sedation pill is Halcion, which is administered to the patient one hour prior to his or her procedure. Once the pill is consumed, patients become more relaxed, drowsy, and often fall asleep during their procedure.

IV sedation:

Intravenous sedation is a moderate sedative that is injected directly into the vein, which administers the drug more quickly. The effects of IV sedation are felt almost immediately. One of the greatest benefits of IV sedation over other methods of sedation dentistry is that the dentist is able to control the level of sedation throughout your procedure.

Sedation dentistry is ideal for any patient with sensitive teeth or gag reflex, has a low pain threshold, is anxious or has nervous habits, or requires extensive dental work at once. Nitrous oxide is even safe for children who are scared of their dentist visit or refuse to cooperate during their visit, and some oral sedation may be safe in small doses for older or larger children.

If you are in need of dental work but have avoided the dentist out of fear or anxiety, contact us for a no-obligation consultation to learn more about what sedation dentistry procedures are available for you.