Our practice offers sedation dentistry, also known as “sleep” dentistry, for patients who suffer from extreme dental anxiety and for complex dental procedures. These sedation techniques can cause a state of deep relaxation and also eliminate pain during the procedure. We offer four different types of sedation: oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide anesthesia.
Who Benefits from Sedation Dentistry?
- Anyone who has anxiety about dental procedures.
- Anyone who has put off dental care for years because of dental anxiety.
- Anyone who suffers from dental phobias or who has had traumatic dental experiences.
- Anyone who wants to have all their dental care provided in one day.
- Anyone who has sensitive teeth.
- Anyone who has difficulty getting numb using traditional dental techniques.
- Anyone who suffers from a gag reflex.
Oral Conscious Sedation
This is used to create a deep state of relaxation in the patient, but does not eliminate pain—local anesthesia must be used with it. The patient awakens from the procedure with little recollection; therefore, fear is greatly minimized. We carefully monitor blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels to ensure safety.
IV Sedation
Our board certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Kourosh Dasty, DDS, PC, will administer drugs through an IV to create a state of very deep and instant relaxation and amnesia. The patient will awaken with no memory of the procedure. Just like conscious oral sedation, IV sedation does not provide pain relief, therefore, a local anesthetic will need to be used in conjunction with IV sedation.
Local Anesthesia
We offer two types of local anesthesia: infiltration injection, which numbs a localized area, or a block injection, which numbs an entire region. These are administered before dental procedures to eliminate even slight discomfort.
Nitrous Oxide
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is administered through a nasal mask to give a sense of deep relaxation and euphoria. It only takes about three minutes to achieve a comfortable state. Patients remain aware with nitrous oxide and are able to tell us if they feel discomfort. Once the procedure is finished, it only takes nitrous oxide a few minutes to be eliminated from the patient’s system.