Sedation Dentistry
Many types of patients can be helped using sedation dentistry including: children who are afraid or too young to have long dental appointments, patients not wishing to have the sight, sounds and smells of the dental clinic, patients with a heightened gag reflex and patients who have trouble receiving local anesthesia.
Sedation dentistry is suitable for all types of dentistry including cosmetic dentistry, root canal therapy, wisdom tooth extraction and extensive restorative dentistry.
Nitrous Oxide(Laughing Gas)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a form of inhalation sedation. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” is a frequently performed dental technique that allows you to feel very relaxed during treatment. This technique will not put you to sleep; however, it is not uncommon for patients to drift into a light sleep while the procedure is performed. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through the nose, and typically takes effect after about 20 seconds. Certain medical conditions may not allow some patients from having nitrous oxide. Our dentists will talk with you more about this technique and determine if this is a good option for your needs. Patients who undergo nitrous oxide sedation typically do not experience any after-effects, and do not need an extensive recovery period before going home.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation is a form of deep conscious sedation where an anti-anxiety medication is administered directly into the blood stream. IV sedation allows you to become deeply relaxed throughout your dental appointment, while remaining conscious and able to cooperate with instructions.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is a form of sedation where oral sedatives, such as Valium, are taken the night before and/or 30 minutes prior to a dentist appointment. Oral sedatives help alleviate anxiety while inducing a state of conscious relaxation throughout your dental visit.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a method of sedation that uses anesthetics to render a patient unconscious throughout a dental procedure. Unlike other sedation methods, you will be rendered into a deep sleep and completely unaware of your surroundings.
Local Anesthesia
Local Anesthesics work to numb the localized areas in your mouth where your dentist is working. Local anaesthesia is commonly called freezing and greatly reduces your discomfort level during dental procedures such as fillings and repairs.
Analgesics
Analgesics are drugs that dull the perception of pain. Commonly used analgesics are aspirin and ibuprofen. If you experience more than moderate pain during or after a dental procedure, your dentist may prescribe codeine or administer Demerol. Sometimes, sedatives are used to relieve patient anxiety.
