Dental Sedation

Sedation Dentistry would be a great option for you if you experience any of the following:

• Anxiety or fear of dental visits
• A past traumatic dental experience
• Very sensitive teeth
• Fear of needles
• Dislike the smells, noises and tastes associated with a dental office
• A strong gag reflex or inability to keep your mouth open during treatment
• Difficulty with traditional ‘freezing’ (i.e. numbing does not take well)
• Extensive treatment or multiple procedures to be done at the same time

Nitrous Oxide (or Laughing Gas):

By breathing in an odourless, colourless gas that patients inhale through a mask placed over their nose, patients feel relaxed, calm, and happy during use. As its nickname implies, laughing gas can sometimes make people feel giddy or giggly, but without losing control. With laughing gas, many procedures on previously anxious patients can be performed in a more relaxed, comfortable state. It has the added advantage of being completely reversible, with no lingering grogginess. When a procedure is completed, patients are given oxygen to breathe for a few minutes and the effect of the sedation is completely reversed.

Oral Sedation:

Oral sedation is an extremely common form of sedation used to control patients’ dental fears. The technique is easy and requires no needles. Best of all, the medications create such a comfortable experience that most patients do not remember the visit; it is as if they slept through the treatment. The patient must arrive at the office one hour prior to their appointment and will be given the sedative (a pill). You must have someone drive you to and pick you up from the appointment as there will be a lingering feeling of sleepiness at the end of your appointment. Oral sedation provides a deeper and more relaxed state for the patient than does nitrous oxide.

The Benefits:

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. Whether it’s a broken tooth that needs to be fixed, missing teeth that need to be replaced, or pain that needs to be eliminated, sedation dentistry can help you regain your oral health and have the smile you’ve always wanted. In fact, any dental procedure can be performed while you are sedated – including root canal treatment, fillings, crowns, gum therapy and cleanings. You can have dental treatment you need and want in a calm, comfortable and relaxed environment.