COMFORT CARE OPTIONS: Local Anesthesia & Sedation Dentistry
Local anesthesia in dentistry involves injecting a medication to numb a specific area of the mouth, preventing pain during procedures like fillings or extractions. It allows patients to remain conscious and aware while the dentist works.
Why Consider Sedation Dentistry?
Dental Fears & Phobias
Sedation denstistry is a practical solution for anyone with dental fears who would otherwise feel uncomfortable receiving dental treatment or avoid seeing a dentist altogether.
Completing Lengthier or More Complex Dental Treatments
Certain procedures take time to complete, and sitting quietly in the chair for long periods can become uncomfortable. Sedation dentistry helps patients relax and receive dental care comfortably. It can also mean we can complete more work in a single appointment, restoring oral health more quickly.
Strong Gag Reflex
Some people find it very uncomfortable to tolerate dental treatment due to a strong gag reflex. They can receive dental care comfortably without triggering this reflex with sedation dentistry.
Low Pain Threshold
Even a simple dental cleaning can feel uncomfortable for some people with more sensitive teeth and gums and who have a lower pain threshold for discomfort. Dental sedation helps ensure the experience is more comfortable
Which Types of Sedation Dentistry Are Available
Various types of sedation dentistry can be used depending on your requirements. Every treatment is customized to provide the correct level of sedation, ensuring you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is inhaled through a small, comfortable mask fitting over your nose. It takes effect quickly so you will feel more relaxed within just a few minutes.
Our dentist controls the amount of sedation you receive right throughout your procedure. Once treatment is complete, we may switch to giving you pure oxygen. This helps eliminate the nitrous oxide more quickly from your body. Laughing gas is the only dental sedative where you can safely drive yourself home afterward.
IV Conscious Sedation
Intravenous sedation is given through an IV line in the back of your hand or the crook of your arm. During treatment, your heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure are continuously monitored, and the sedation level can be adjusted at any time. If necessary, reversal medications can be used.
Many people who receive IV sedation are so deeply relaxed that they fall asleep, so you may hear this called sleep dentistry or twilight dentistry. The sedative contains an amnesiac, so you most likely would have little or no memory of treatment. IV sedation can be ideal for anyone with severe dental anxieties or who needs to undergo a lengthier treatment, for example, a complex dental implant procedure.
IV sedation requires special licensing, training & advanced equipment to ensure your complete safety.