Sedation dentistry provides safe, comfortable dental treatment for patients with special needs. Sometimes called relaxation dentistry, sedation dentistry is a method of managing pain and anxiety during professional dental care through the use of medication.
You can benefit from sedation dentistry if you experience one or more of the following:
- High fear of dental care
- Complex dental problems
- Traumatic dental experiences
- Fear of needles and shots
- Difficulty getting numb
- Sensitive teeth
Common types of Sedation Dentistry
- Oral Conscious Sedation
- Through this type of sedation you will experience very deep relaxation while still being conscious. Your doctor will provide you with a prescription for an oral medication that is easy to swallow, safe, and low cost. Common oral sedation medications used are Halcion (triazolam) for adults and Versed (Midozolam) for children (in liquid form). When these take effect, you will be able to speak and respond to external requests, but may have limited memory of your appointment. Ask your dental team for details.
- Inhalation Sedation
- Inhalation sedation uses Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen (laughing gas) to help your body achieve a relaxed state. This is the most popular form of sedation used in dentistry today.
- Intravenous (IV) Sedation
- During IV sedation you will mostly sleep for your appointment. An intravenous line is placed and medications are introduced directly into the bloodstream. This is the deepest of these three options. A certified nurse anesthetist is brought in to perform the sedation. The anesthetist and dental team will closely monitor your health while under anesthesia. Ask your dental team for details.