Imagine undergoing a complex periodontal treatment. When your treatment is complete, you have little to no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort you were expecting. We are pleased to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry. Patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:
- A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
- A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
- A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry allows your doctor to provide a variety of periodontal and dental implant treatments safely and comfortably for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. There are several benefits of sedation dentistry, including:
- Little to no memory of undergoing the procedure
- No sense of time while under sedation
- Little sense of smell or sound
- No fear or anxiety during treatment
Patients who have undergone a procedure using sedation dentistry will tell you it’s a simple, relaxing way to receive the periodontal care you need.
I’m nervous about being sedated. What levels of sedation are available to me?
There’s no need to be nervous about having sedation dentistry at our practice. We are licensed by the American Dental Association and the North Carolina Dental Board, and you’ll find that we are both respectful and professional at all times.
Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law, and there are three sedative states at which your periodontist can administer your treatment: mild sedation and moderate sedation.
- Mild Sedation - Anxiolysis the lightest form of sedation dentistry and is often used for patients with mild anxiety, longer procedures, or more complex situations. Usually administered orally, with mild sedation, you remain awake or very sleepy throughout the entire procedure and are able to breathe on your own, but you will feel a great sense of relaxation. Patients typically recover from anxiolysis sedation within a few hours after the procedure is complete. Nitrous oxide inhalation (laughing gas) is another form of mild to moderate sedation where you are very relaxed during treatment.
- Moderate Sedation - Used for patients with moderate dental anxiety and for patients who need longer or more complex procedures, moderate sedation often refers to the use of light IV sedation. With moderate sedation, you will be in a deep state of relaxation. It is required that patients receiving moderate sedation have a parent, spouse, or friend accompany them to appointments because it can take several hours for the sedative to wear off and driving may be unsafe.
How are sedatives administered?
- Oral – An extremely common technique for dental sedation is oral sedation. It’s easy and doesn’t require the use of needles. You will be given a prescription pill, taken about an hour before your appointment, so that by the time you arrive at our office, you’re fully relaxed.
- Intravenous (IV) – A small IV is started in your arm or wrist once your procedure is about to begin and sedative medications are delivered to relax you and facilitate your appointment.
Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, learn more about sedation dentistry, and find out which sedation dentistry method is right for you.