Imagine undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When your treatment is complete, you have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort you were expecting. We are pleased to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry. Patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:

• A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
• A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
• A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry allows your doctor to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. There are several benefits of sedation dentistry, including:

• No sense of time while under sedation
• No fear or anxiety during treatment

Patients who have undergone a procedure using sedation dentistry will tell you it’s a simple, relaxing way to experience dentistry.

I’m nervous about being unconscious. What levels of sedation are available to me?

There’s no need to be nervous about having sedation dentistry at our practice. We are licensed by the American Dental Association, and you’ll find that we are both respectful and professional at all times.

Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law, and there are two sedative states at which our dental clinic can administer your treatment: mild sedation and moderate sedation.

• Mild Sedation - Anxiolysis the lightest form of sedation dentistry and is often used for patients with mild anxiety, longer procedures or more complex situations. Usually administered orally, with mild sedation, you remain awake or very sleepy throughout the entire procedure and are able to breathe on your own, but you will feel a great sense of relaxation. Patients typically recover from anxiolysis sedation within a few hours after the procedure is complete. Nitrous oxide inhalation (laughing gas) is another form of mild sedation where you are very relaxed during treatment.
• Moderate Sedation - Used for patients with moderate dental anxiety and for patients who need longer or more complex procedures. With conscious sedation, you will remain awake throughout your procedure, but should be in a deep state of relaxation. It is recommended that patients receiving conscious sedation have a parent, spouse, or friend accompany them to appointments because it can take several hours for the sedative to wear off and driving may be unsafe.

How are sedatives administered?

• Inhalation – Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so you can resume your normal activities immediately.
• Oral – An extremely common technique for dental sedation is oral sedation. It’s easy and doesn’t require the use of needles. You will be given a prescription pill, usually taken about an hour before your appointment, so that by the time you arrive at our office, you’re fully relaxed.

What does it mean to be a Certified and Licensed Practitioner?

A dentist who is certified and licensed to administer sedation has received additional specialty training and has been legally certified by their state's Board of Dental Examiners to deliver medical drugs that alter a patient’s consciousness for a comfortable, pain-free treatment.

Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, learn more about sedation dentistry, and find out which sedation dentistry method is right for you.

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