Sedation dentistry is a tool that we have to be able to make the patient experience more comfortable. There’s different levels of sedation. We offer laughing gas or nitrous oxide, which helps alleviate some anxiety.
We also do oral sedation, which is a medication you can prescribe before your appointment, which also can take the edge off. Laughing gas is a good option for patients who, for example, are a busy professional and you don’t have the time to take whole day off at work. You’re able to come in and we can use the laughing gas to make you comfortable, but after the procedure, you’re fully functional, able to drive off and go to work or do what you got to do that day.
For patients who have severe dental anxiety or who have an extensive treatment plan or a lot of work that needs to be done, IV sedation might be the better option for them. Alleviates more of the anxiety and keeps them comfortable. Oral sedation is recommended for patients who might not have a very high level of anxiety, but still get a little nervous coming to the dentist.
I usually recommend that for more surgical procedures as well. Sedation dentistry is extremely safe. Here at North Oakstone, we utilize a CRNA to administer the sedatives.
I, myself, and all the other doctors are certified in IV sedation. However, we use a CRNA to administer the sedatives. That way they can monitor the vitals and make sure everything is going well with the patient while I’m just focusing on the dentistry.
Sedation dentistry has changed a lot of my patients’ lives because a lot of patients I get that come in here have not been to the dentist in 10, 15, 20 years because of that fear, that anxiety surrounding the dental appointment. Sedation dentistry has allowed them to get the care that they so desperately need and that they’ve been avoiding for so many years.
