Sedation Dentistry

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 though the use of medication.

You can benefit from sedation dentistry if you experience one of more of the following:

• High fear of dental care
• Complex dental problems
• Traumatic dental experiences
• Fear of needles and shots
• Trouble getting numb
• Sensitive teeth

The two most common types of sedation dentistry are oral conscious sedation and inhalation sedation. In our office, we provide inhalation sedation. We use nitrous oxide and oxygen (also commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air) to help your body achieve a relaxed state. While under the effect of nitrous oxide, you are conscious and alert, and your reflexes are intact. The procedure you undergo will be easier for you and may even seem to take less time. Many patients have told us that they feel "detached" from the treatment and/or they just don't care what is happening. In addition, patients who use nitrous oxide feel much less stressed both during and after the procedure. This is the most popular form of sedation used in dentistry today.