Sedation Options
While there is no substitute for comfortable, profound local. Anesthesia or “freezing”, we understand that for various reasons such as extreme anxiety, limited ability to open and gagging, some form of sedation will be beneficial.
We offer the following modalities:
- Nitrous oxide/oxygen: this is offered to patients who have good, consistent past experience with its use. Nitrous oxide is a sweet-smelling, non-irritating colorless gas which you inhale. It is safe, quickly reversible, and the depth of the sedation can be altered within a narrow range. You remain awake but relaxed.
- Mild oral sedation: A short-acting, short duration oral sedative is given in advance of your treatment. It is mildly amnesic so you may remember little of your procedure. You should be quite relaxed and you may fall asleep.
- Intravenous (IV) sedation: We work with a dentist who is a certified specialist in Anesthesia to provide you with a deeper sedation, where you are “asleep” but still able to breathe on your own.
Both oral sedation and IV sedation require that you be accompanied home after your treatment by a responsible adult.
It is important for you to let us know at your consultation appointment what your sedation needs might be.