Sedation Dentistry

A lot of people are afraid to go to the dentist because they become anxious about instruments being placed in their mouth; some have had a bad experience in the past, and some people are just afraid of the pain. While there was little to do about this in the past, modern technology has made it possible for patients to get their teeth attended to, without suffering from pain or anxiety. Enter Sedation Dentistry. It’s not exactly a means to put you to sleep. In fact, you are still aware of your surroundings, but you don’t feel what is happening in your mouth. So what might be an anxious experience is over before you know it, and you don’t have to feel a thing!

Sedation is a process used to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state through the use of medications. Sedative drugs such as tranquillizers, depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and nitrous oxide can be administered in a variety of ways. In the past, IV sedation was predominantly used to sedate a dental patient. IV sedation is both safe and effective when administered by a trained professional. Today, however, sedation dentistry has evolved to be even more beneficial to a relaxing experience. Patients have alternatives to the traditional methods of inhalation, such as nitrous oxide or "laughing gas," and IVs, such as those offering a "no needle" approach that many people find more appealing.

One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform. Therefore, complex dental procedures such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments.

If you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing long or complicated dental procedures, sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of.