We understand the many fears and negative connotations that our patients may associate with dental visits and dental procedures. We have the utmost care and compassion for our patients and it’s important for us to alleviate any anxiety or discomfort in any dental procedure. Dr. Robin Steely trained with Dr. Anthony Feck, DDS and was certified in Oral Conscious Sedation and Accredited by DOCS: Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. Oral Conscious Sedation ensures our patients are completely relaxed during difficult or complex procedures while still being able to communicate with our staff. Patients that undergo Oral Conscious Sedation typically don’t have any recollection of the procedure and remain relaxed for the duration of the operation.
Sedation Dentistry Equipment
We utilize specialized equipment specifically engineered for sedation dentistry to further safeguard our patients from anything that may cause fear or anxiety. For instance, we employ cheek retractors and devices that help our patients open their mouth wider without having to consciously do so. We also have special sedation dentistry chairs that guarantee successful, anxiety-free procedures.
Sedation Medication
We’re highly trained with five oral sedation medications that include Lorazepam, Triazolam, Diazepam, Zalepoln, and Hydroxyzine. We also offer inhaled minimal sedation medication– laughing gas or nitrous oxide. Laughing gas is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after a procedure. We typically administer oral sedative medications through a sublingual administration by crushing them up. This ensures our patients receive the full dose without having to worry about taking pills or receiving painful injections. We also use a topical anesthetic in order to decrease pain or discomfort during a procedure.
Candidates for Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry can be offered to any individual who’s already healthy enough to undergo extensive dental procedures. Any of our patients who experience any fear, anxiety, or discomfort during dental procedures can utilize this wonderful service. Patients who have a lower pain threshold, experience difficulty remaining still, have very sensitive teeth, have a bad gag reflex, and/or need a large amount of dental work completed are all candidates for sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry helps us complete multiple treatments at once, utilizing the most of our time, and really helping our patients undergo long procedures.
Different Levels of Sedation Dentistry
Depending on the procedure, the duration, and our patient’s past experience with dental procedures, we determine what level of sedation the patient must undergo:
- Minimal sedation: patients are given small amounts of sedatives ensuring they are awake but relaxed
- Moderate sedation: patients are given enough sedatives to forget the procedure but remain conscious enough to speak to our staff
Sedation Dentistry Questions?
If you have any further questions or concerns regarding sedation dentistry, please don’t hesitate to call us or contact us. We’re happy to help you understand the sedatives and techniques we utilize in order to really mitigate any of the fears and anxieties you may have. Your comfort and state-of-mind are crucial to us and the success of any dental procedure.
