Sedation Dentistry
Does dental anxiety prevent you from getting the care you need? Sedation might be the perfect solution for you.
What is Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry helps you feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable during dental procedures. It provides a moderate level of sedation, meaning you remain awake but feel completely at ease. Often referred to as conscious sedation or "twilight sleep," it induces a state of short-term amnesia, allowing you to experience pain-free treatment without being fully unconscious.
This approach is ideal for patients with dental anxiety or those undergoing lengthy procedures.
What is Dental Anxiety?
How can sedation dentistry help?
Dental anxiety is incredibly common and nothing to feel ashamed of. It can stem from the dental clinic setting itself or specific triggers like needles, drills, or even white coat syndrome.
These anxieties often develop due to past negative experiences, extreme sensitivity, or resistance to local anesthetics. Fortunately, there are solutions to help you overcome these fears and receive the care you need.
At Secure Dental, we understand that even severe dental anxiety is manageable and should never prevent you from getting the treatment you deserve. With sedation dentistry, we help patients remain calm and comfortable throughout their procedures, making it easier to complete necessary treatments quickly and efficiently without the stress or discomfort of the past.
Our sedation methods not only ensure comfort but also create a partial amnesic effect, leaving you with only a fuzzy memory of the entire experience!
types of Sedation Dentistry
Here at Secure Dental, we offer a few options for sedation depending on what is the right fit for you:
Oral Conscious Sedation involves a prescription for sedative pills that are catered to you by the doctor. Sedative medication is typically given the night before to help you sleep, as well as the morning of your procedure to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
IV Sedation involves the intravenous administration of sedatives in order to put you in a diminished state of consciousness throughout the entire procedure. This also has other benefits for reducing post-operative swelling and pain!
Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) is a sedative that is used to safely and effectively manage pain and anxiety during your dental procedure. Colorless and odorless, nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and administered through a small mask worn over the nose. Patients are instructed to breathe normally and are expected to experience the effects of laughing gas within a few minutes. You may feel light-headed, tingly, or heaviness in your arms or legs. Generally, patients should feel calm and relaxed throughout the procedure. You may even giggle a few times!
Who needs IV sedation? Is IV sedation safe?
Anyone in good health can be a candidate for IV sedation dentistry, but it is an especially effective solution for patients who experience the following:
Phobia of dental procedures
Difficulty getting numb
Sensitive teeth or oral nerves
Complex dental issues
Resistance to local anesthetic
A small mouth that aches during dental work
General anxiety disorder
Gag reflex
IV sedation dentistry is very safe. Before receiving IV sedation, we will conduct a preliminary consultation. Our doctor will check your previous medical/oral history, medications you are taking, and allergies to determine your eligibility.
Some medical conditions, like hypertension, may require permission from your doctor before IV sedation can be administered. Our team also monitors your vital signs using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment throughout the treatment and while you are in the recovery room.
What Does IV Sedation Feel Like?
The sedative works to put you in a semi-conscious state, so you are unaware and unable to remember the events happening around you, although you can still respond to your dentist’s requests.
When the sedative takes effect, our patients generally feel extremely relaxed, similar to a dream-like state of mind. Following the procedure, most say they didn’t even realize how much time had passed and that their appointment was already over.
Before & After the Appointment
Before the Appointment:
Avoid eating or drinking 10 hours before your appointment.
Take your normal medication with a sip of water, unless our doctor instructs you otherwise.
Do not smoke for 24 hours before your procedure.
Wear comfortable clothing, but no jewelry, nail polish or contact lenses.
Brush your teeth before your procedure.
After the appointment there will be a short period where you will be allowed to recover and must be fully alert before you are released to your companion. You may feel a little drowsy when you come around, so you will need to take it easy for the rest of the day. Your companion will be responsible for driving you home.
It can take 24 hours for the medication to leave your body, so avoid alcohol and take any medication prescribed as directed. Also, avoid driving and strenuous activities for the rest of the day.
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