SEDATION DENTISTRY
Feel Relaxed During Your Next Dental Appointment
A relaxing experience with Oral and IV sedation options
Sedation Dentistry
If you find it challenging to be relaxed in the dental chair, then you might consider our Calgary sedation dentistry services. Some patients feel stressed and anxious about dental treatments, resulting in a situation where they endure a toothache over stepping foot in a dental office. At Southcentre Dental, we offer a relaxing environment and medical options to support the dental treatments that are needed.
Choosing our Calgary sedation dentistry can produce a feeling of calm and relaxation before, during, and even after nearly any dental procedure. This treatment uses medication to help you relax. Unlike general anesthesia that puts you to sleep, most patients are awake during the treatment.
Levels of Sedation
You have the option to talk to a sedation dentist in Calgary, such as Southcentre Dental, about the type of sedation that fits your needs. In addition to the sedation, you will also receive a local anesthetic to numb the site where the dental work is needed.
There are four levels of sedation to consider:
Inhaled Sedation: Commonly known as “laughing gas,” this type of sedation is administered by breathing nitrous oxide. A mask is placed over your nose, helping you relax as you breathe the gas. Your sedation dentist in Calgary has the ability to manage the amount of nitrous oxide you receive. Typically, the sedation effect wears off quickly after the mask is removed.
IV Sedation: A form of moderate sedation can be administered through an IV in the dental office. IV sedation is not as common as inhaled sedation or oral medication. As with nitrous oxide, the dentist has the control to make continual adjustments to the sedation level.
Oral Sedation: A dosage of medication can be given via a pill or a drink for children. Usually, the sedation medication is administered an hour before the treatment. You will likely feel drowsy but still be awake and relaxed. If moderate sedation is needed, then a larger dose can be administered.
General Anesthesia: In some cases, patients choose general anesthesia that makes them totally unconscious. This sedation is typically limited to hospitals or a specialty sedation dentist in Calgary with specific accreditation to provide deep sedation.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?
Are you thinking about visiting a sedation dentist in Calgary? Sedation is a great option for people who experience anxiety or fear about visiting the dentist. It can also be helpful for patients with sensitive teeth, have a low pain threshold, or need a large amount of dental work in one visit. Sometimes sedation is an option when a child refuses to cooperate during the dental visit.
During your initial consultation at our Calgary office, Dr. Jennifer Silver will listen carefully to any concerns you may have about comfort during your general, restorative, or cosmetic dentistry procedure to help you determine if sedation may be of benefit to you. Please call us at (403) 278-1415 to schedule your consultation and learn more.
Sedation in Dentistry FAQ
Who Benefits From Dental Sedation?
- Patients with dental anxiety
- Patients with sensitive teeth
- Patients with a low pain threshold
- Patients with an active gag reflex
This list is obviously far from exhaustive. You can ask Dr. Silver if you’re a good candidate for dental sedation dentistry at your initial consultation.
How Sedated Will I Be?
The most common type of dental sedation we practice relies on oral sedation instead of intravenous drugs. About an hour before your dental sedation Dr. Silver will give you a mild sedative. The medication will help to relax you. We will not start any treatment until you are relaxed.
- You will need a ride home after your appointment so you will need to arrange a companion.
- You will need to take the day off work but you will be Ok to work the following day.
- For many patients the big benefit of sedation is you have very little memory or in some cases no memory of the procedures
What procedures can you use sedation for?
Sedation can be used for any dental procedure. We don’t want fear to be an obstacle to receiving the care you want. We have patients who receive sedation for routine dental cleanings all the way to more complex procedures such as veneers and implants.
Again, you shouldn’t’t just assume that your procedure is incompatible with sedation . Dr. Silver is happy to discuss dental sedation with you at your initial consultation.
Schedule a Consult with Dr. Jennifer Silver
