Why Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry is a therapeutic technique used by dentists to alleviate patients' apprehension and stress associated with dental treatment. Sedation dentistry can be employed for all dental procedures. Under sedation dentistry, the patient can enjoy a pain-free experience, and all your restorative dentistry can be completed in one visit. Patients frequently have the feeling that a procedure only lasted a few minutes, when actually it may have lasted several hours.

What is Sedation -

Sedation is a process of establishing a relaxed, calm state through the use of sedatives. These sedatives which include tranquilizers and anxiolytics can be administered via inhalation, oral, or intravenous (IV) methods.

Types of Sedation

Inhalation: Nitrous Oxide or “laughing gas” can take effect within 5 minutes of inhalation. ; This colorless, pleasant smelling gas produces a relaxed sense of euphoria. The Nitrous Oxide gas is expelled from the body within a few minutes once the supply has been stopped, and there are no lingering effects following the procedure.

Oral Sedation: This simple technique requires no needles in order for the patient to become completely relaxed. The medications used create a stress free experience, to the extent that patients frequently do not remember the visit, as though they had slept through the procedure.

Intravenous (IV) sedation: In this method, the sedation drug is administered through a very thin needle into the vein. The IV sedation takes effect very quickly and results in deeper, more intense levels of sedation than the other methods. Effects may last beyond the procedure, so it is necessary to plan on having a friend or family member on hand for the trip home.