“My dentist is painless… he doesn’t feel a thing!”

We hope that old, corny joke brought a little smile to your face. Dental work is common, yet many people have countless fears about visiting any dental office, regardless of experience or award-winning staff. If the idea of sitting in a dental chair for an hour brings tenseness, anxiety or phobia known officially as dentophobia, sedation dentistry may be an eye-opener that can leave patients feeling very peaceful as the dentist does his work. 

So, What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves bringing the patient to a partial consciousness or fully unconscious ‘relaxed’ state-of-being. There are many levels of sedation and depending on the treatment, your medical doctor and dentist can find out which is the correct approach for you.

There are four levels of sedation:

-Minimal sedation: patient is conscious but relaxed

-Moderate sedation: patient may slur words when speaking but memory of the procedure will not be there

-Deep sedation: patient on the edge of consciousness but able to be awakened.

-General anesthesia: patient is completely unconscious.

The dental sedation can be administered orally with a pill, providing minimal to moderate sedation, inhaled ‘gas’ known as nitrous oxide, and intravenous (I.V.) administration. Dentists that use deep sedation procedure must successfully complete the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) program for deep sedation and general anesthesia. General dentists can perform minimal and moderate sedation with nitrous oxide or pills.

Find Out if You’re a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry

Consulting with your M.D., as well as the dentist, is highly recommended to ensure that the dose of sedative appropriate for depending on age, weight or if a patient suffers from chronic sleep apnea. You should also understand how your vital signs will be monitored during the procedure in accordance with the guidelines of the American Dental Association and what the protocol is for reversing the sedation effects. Do not be afraid to ask as many questions as come to mind before proceeding. As medical professionals, we are here to provide you with the answers patients need to make the best decisions for oral health.

Call us with any questions or to set up an appointment at (631) 665-8484.