What are my sedation options?
It’s perfectly normal to feel a little anxiety before a complex dental procedure. You should know beforehand that your dentists at Pacific Dental Associates take your comfort into consideration at every appointment. Our dentists are trained to remain composed with anxious patients, but there are alternatives to create a sense of calm for patients and our team before treatment.
Is Sedation Right for You?
For many procedures that are more comprehensive than a simple dental cleaning, a local anesthetic is administered to numb the area. But if numbing is not enough to ensure your comfort, you may want to consider sedation. The following traits are common among clients who seek sedation:
• Low pain threshold. Can you not tolerate dental injections?
• Restless. Would you be able to sit still for an operation?
• Sensitive teeth and/ or gums. Do your gums bleed when flossing?
• Bad gag reflex. Do you sometimes have trouble swallowing pill, or flossing your back teeth?
Sedation is also useful if you are undergoing a longer procedure, like a root canal or wisdom tooth removal.
How Sedation Works
Depending on the appropriate level of sedation, your dentist may use nitrous oxide supplied through a breathing mask, pill medication, or an IV.
There are different levels of sedation we use during procedures:
• Minimal sedation – You’d be fully conscious, but relaxed.
• Moderate sedation – You will experience the same sense of calm with minimal sedation, but medication used will last longer. You will be also be able communicate with our dentists.
At Pacific Dental Associates, we provide oral conscious sedation and laughing gas options to fully quell patient anxieties and fears about their treatment.
What to Know Before Sedation
It’s important to know that all dentists, in general, most general dentists are qualified to administer mild with nitrous, but only those who have completed the Commission on Dental Accreditation’s program (usually oral maxillofacial surgeons and dental anesthesiologists) can use more complex forms of. We review your medical history in order to determine an appropriate and safe dosage of recommended sedative.
Whether you choose sedation, be assured that your safety and comfort are always paramount at Pacific Dental Associates. Contact us today and we can establish the right treatment plan to ease anxiety and fear.