Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry techniques available at our practice can take the fear out of going to the dentist and give you a virtually pain-free, even relaxing experience. A large number of Americans suffer from dental anxiety, whether it’s due to the fear of needles and drills or discomfort with the sights, sounds, and other sensations associated with dental treatment. In some cases, people with dental phobia do not go to the dentist at all, which can lead to serious oral health problems. Our dentist, Dr. Jimmy Wu, offers numerous sedation dentistry techniques, including . Dr. Wu is one of the few dentists in the area who offer this powerful sedation option, which can help patients sleep through their entire procedure and experience a stress-free and pain-free dental treatment.

• What Is Sedation Dentistry?
• Sedation Dentistry Benefits
• IV Sedation
• IV Sedation Advantages
• IV Sedation Side Effects
• Oral Conscious Sedation
• Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry Side Effects
• Sedation Dentistry Cost
• Additional Sedation Dentistry FAQs

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry techniques are designed to help patients who suffer from dental anxiety and dental phobia. Sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry,” these techniques allow patients to have dental treatment in a calmer, more relaxed state. Dr. Wu offers both IV sedation and oral conscious sedation (described below), which offer different levels of sedation for patients; however, both can induce a state of deep relaxation throughout the treatment.

What Are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry’s biggest advantage is its ability to make patients feel more comfortable and less anxious during their dental treatment. Patients who are wary of needles, feel general unease in the dental office, have an overly reactive gag reflex, do not respond well to anesthetics, or have a fear of certain sounds or smells in a dental practice can often benefit from sedation dentistry techniques. Sedation dentistry can also be useful for patients who are having more complex procedures that may take longer periods of time to complete.

IV Sedation

Intravenous (IV) sedation can be an option for patients who are undergoing more complex treatments and for those who have extreme dental anxiety. This sedation dentistry technique should put you into a deep sleep—you will likely not be conscious of the procedure taking place. Your progress during the procedure is monitored throughout.

IV sedation involves the injection of a sedative solution directly into the vein. It is fast-acting, and the treatment typically begins once it is determined you are comfortable and that the effects of the solution have begun. The level of sedation during your treatment can be adjusted depending on your response and the monitoring of your vital signs.

Please keep in mind that you will need some extra time to recover after treatment since it takes a while for the effects of the sedation to wear off. In fact, you will likely be very groggy once you wake up, so you will need someone to take you home after the procedure.

What Are the Advantages of IV Sedation?

There are many benefits and advantages associated with IV sedation, particularly for individuals who have severe dental anxiety and a significantly low tolerance for discomfort. These advantages include:

• IV sedation levels can be adjusted to produce a deep sleep or a conscious state of deep relaxation, depending on individual needs
• The IV sedation solution begins working very quickly since it is injected into the bloodstream
• More complex and time-consuming procedures can be a much easier experience for patients
• Our dentist can often accomplish more treatment goals in one appointment
• Patients will likely have little memory, or even no memory at all, of the procedure taking place

Since IV sedation involves a deeper level of sedation than other techniques, your medical history will be evaluated to ensure you are a good candidate for this option. Once Dr. Wu has performed the initial examination and has talked with you about your needs, he can determine whether IV sedation is ideal for your procedure.

Are There Side Effects Associated with IV Sedation?

The most common side effect associated with IV sedation is extreme drowsiness once the treatment is complete. This could take several hours to fade, which is why we recommend that you have someone available to take you home following treatment. Another side effect that is somewhat common is “dry mouth”; however, this should not last long. While other side effects, such as nausea/vomiting, or headaches have occurred in some patients after IV sedation, these are not as common.

Many dental practices do not offer IV sedation onsite at their practices, and the team at Sutra Dental Spa is proud to provide this option. IV sedation has helped many patients receive the care they need without pain, worry, or fears about the process!

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation is a very simple technique that involves no needles and no pain. For some patients, a small pill will be taken about an hour before the dental treatment, and by the time the procedure begins a feeling of very deep relaxation will set in. If you are given the oral conscious sedation pill, you’ll likely be in such a deep state of relaxation you may not be aware that the treatment is taking place. However, the pill will not render you unconscious, and you will still be able to communicate with our dental team. Also, one of our staff members will be monitoring your progress throughout the treatment to ensure everything is running smoothly. Oral conscious sedation is so effective on some patients that they don’t even remember undergoing the procedure once it is complete!

Other patients may only need nitrous oxide (commonly known as “laughing gas”) instead of a pill to obtain the relaxed state they desire for treatment; however, for those who will be given the pill for oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide will be used in conjunction with that.

Keep in mind: you will need someone to take you to and from the practice for your appointment because the effects of oral conscious sedation take a little while to wear off.

What Are the Side Effects of Sedation Dentistry?

The oral conscious sedation technique usually produces only minimal side effects. Although you should not be fully asleep during treatment, you will likely feel drowsy and groggy following the procedure. It may take a few hours for these effects to completely dissipate. Some individuals may experience a certain degree of dizziness, nausea, headache, or “dry mouth,” but these effects should also fade relatively quickly and they are not experienced by all patients.

How Much Does Sedation Dentistry Cost?

The cost of sedation dentistry varies significantly among patients based on the type of sedation utilized and other factors associated with the customized treatment plan. When your customized treatment plan is developed during the initial consultation, a member of our team will provide you with a price estimate that includes all costs associated with your procedure, which will also incorporate the cost of the sedation dentistry technique that is chosen. Our staff can help you with any questions you may have about payment options, insurance coverage, or dental financing. We work with CareCredit^®, one of the most prominent healthcare lending agencies in the nation. If you are interested in financing your procedure over time, CareCredit^® offers qualified applicants a vast selection of options that can make paying for treatment as convenient as possible.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Sedation Dentistry

What is dental phobia?

It is perfectly normal for many patients to experience some level of anxiety before

dental treatment; however, when individuals are anxious to such a degree that they decide not to have treatment at all, it could be a sign of “dental phobia.” Those who suffer from dental phobia often find the very thought of visiting the dentist terrifying, and therefore do not seek necessary dental treatment. Fortunately, sedation dentistry offers patients a way to feel more relaxed and comfortable during dental procedures, relieving anxiety and helping individuals obtain the care they need.

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Our practice is committed to maximizing safety for our patients who choose to utilize sedation dentistry techniques during procedures. For individuals who are considering oral conscious or IV sedation, we will review medical histories during the initial consultation to determine whether they are suitable candidates. During the procedure, patients are closely monitored to ensure the sedation process is running safely and smoothly.

Does insurance cover sedation dentistry?

Some dental insurance policies may offer coverage for some types of sedation dentistry in certain cases; however, whether or not there are benefits for dental sedation techniques often varies greatly from one policy to another. We can help you determine if your dental insurance policy may offer coverage for oral conscious sedation or IV sedation.

Will I feel any pain?

IV sedation and oral conscious sedation are designed to make patients feel relaxed to such an extent that they should not experience painful sensations during the procedure. In fact, with IV sedation, patients often fall into a deep sleep. For oral conscious sedation, some individuals may fall into a light sleep.

Will I remember receiving my treatment?

Patients are likely to enter into a deep sleep or sleep-like state and not remember having their treatment. With oral conscious sedation, the technique is not designed to place patients in a state of unconsciousness, and they should be able to communicate with our dentist at all times. With IV sedation, patients may fall into a deep sleep; however, this will depend on the amount of sedation solution utilized. All individuals who have IV sedation or oral conscious sedation at our practice are closely monitored by our dental staff while treatment is being performed.

If you have questions about sedation dentistry, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.