Sedation Dentistry
Sedation Dentistry (or “sleep dentistry”) is a service we offer to patients who may need a little or a lot of extra help relaxing during procedures.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide sedation (or “laughing gas”) is a safe method to “take the edge off” during dental work. The effects of nitrous oxide set in quickly, allow you to relax and be comfortable, and wear off almost immediately after the procedure. Nitrous oxide has been used for mild sedation for decades, can be used safely on adults and children, and can make your treatment experience a much more comfortable one.
Oral Sedation
Dental phobia is a very real and very common affliction. Oral Sedation – using prescription sedatives just before and during procedures – is an excellent option for patients who feel overly anxious or nervous about dental treatment and want to be “wiped out” and unaware during procedures. Phobic or overly anxious patients often put off simple treatment until the problems become much larger, much more difficult and time-consuming to treat, and therefore even more nerve-wracking for the patient. Oral sedation can provide the help they need to be comfortable and relaxed during treatment, and is a very safe and affordable solution to dental anxiety. In addition, sedation using oral sedatives does not carry the considerable risks or expense of general anesthesia during IV sedation, and is widely considered a safer and preferable method.
Oral sedation using the prescription sedative Halcion has been shown to be incredibly safe and effective. Patients take one dose just before their appointment to calm their nerves, and another before the procedure begins. Halcion gives the impression of having slept through the procedure, though the patient actually remains conscious and responsive throughout. Another benefit of Halcion is the amnesiac effect it gives – patients rarely recall much about the procedure afterward.
In our office, patients are continually monitored during oral sedation for blood pressure and blood oxygen levels. We keep a reversal drug on hand in the very rare event of an adverse reaction.
If you or someone you love may benefit from sedation during dental treatment, give us a call at 801-701-2211 to learn more.
