Sleep Dentistry and overcoming dental anxiety

Patients are usually awake with the exception of those who are under general anesthesia.

Fearful patients no longer have to be afraid of the dentist. Getting the treatment you need, can be done easily and painlessly while you are totally relaxed and comfortable.

Sedation Dentistry refers to the use of pharmacological agents to calm and relax a patient prior to and during a dental appointment. It works by depressing the CNS, specifically conscious awareness. There are 3 degrees of CNS depression: mild, moderate, and deep sedation. Mild sedation will help reduce anxiety but you will be able to respond to both verbal and/or physical stimulation. We offer XANAX or TRIAZOLAM for adults, and MEDAZOLAM for children. With moderate sedation, you are more relaxed and need purposeful stimulation to respond. Our doses stay within the minimal dose. Deep sedation means you will not have signs of consciousness and therefore be unable to respond to stimulation. I.V. sedation falls under deep sedation and this sedation is used for oral surgery with our visiting oral surgeon, Dr. Bell.

With sedation dentistry, time seems to pass very quickly, so hours fell like minutes. It’s a great option if you need a large amount of dental care completed at one time. Oral Sedation enables us to work more efficiently and complete more treatment in fewer visits.