Sedation Dentistry, sometimes called Relaxation Dentistry or Sleep Dentistry, refers to the way a Dentist manages anxiety and discomfort during dental appointments. Sedation Dentistry is very different from General Anesthesia where a patient is completely unconscious; asleep and unable to respond. Patients under Conscious Sedation are able to respond to commands and breathe on their own.
At Dr. Quimby’s, we utilize two forms of sedation… Oral Conscious Sedation and Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Sedation.
HOW ORAL CONSCIOUS SEDATION WORKS
You will be prescribed an oral medication to be taken one (1) hour prior to your scheduled dental visit. It is imperative that you arrange to have a companion drive you to and from your dental appointment. When you arrive at our Dental Office, you will be awake, but feel drowsy and relaxed. You will be escorted to the dental treatment room and seated as you arrive. You will be placed on a monitor to observe your vital signs throughout the entire procedure.
It is our desire that you are entirely relaxed and comfortable during the treatment process. We will take extra measures to provide you with a peaceful appointment with soothing music and a warm blanket. If there is anything we can do to make you more comfortable, please do not hesitate to ask.The oral sedatives do not have any analgesic qualities, so local anesthesia will be used. Because you will be so relaxed and the Dentist is expert at the injection techniques used, you will probably not remember when your teeth were actually being “numbed.”
When your treatment is completed, your companion will drive you home, where you may recline and take a nap. When you are fully awake, you will feel comfortable, relaxed and free from stress. You will probably remember very little about your wonderful, relaxing dental experience.
There's so much dentistry can do these days to make your mouth healthier and your smile more beautiful. Yet many people don't take advantage of this because of a long-standing fear of dental treatment. If you are one of these people, rest assured that it's possible to have an experience that's free of anxiety and pain. This can be accomplished by blocking your sensations of pain with local anesthetics or by giving you medication that can help you relax. Sometimes both are needed to ensure maximum comfort, especially if you are someone for whom the injections that deliver local anesthetics are themselves a major source of anxiety.
Ask Dr. Quimby if you are a candidate.
HOW INHALATION SEDATION WORKS
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen, commonly known as “laughing gas,” has been used as the most frequent and primary means of Sedation in Dentistry for many years. Thirty-five percent (35%) of all United States Dentists offer Nitrous Oxide Sedation.
Inhalation Conscious Sedation — Nitrous oxide, a sedative you inhale, has been used in dental offices for nearly 100 years. It is a relatively poor pain reliever but a very good anti-anxiety medication. It is administered through a nasal hood, which resembles a small cup that is placed over your nose. The oxygen mixed with nitrous oxide provides a light-headed or even euphoric feeling, which is quick to wear off so there is no “hangover” effect. All bodily functions remain essentially normal during the use of this sedative, which is very safe.
Ask Dr. Quimby if you are a candidate.
Before the appointment with inhalation sedation:
- Try not to eat for 3 hours before appointment to avoid nausea
- You are able to eat a light meal if necessary for diabetic reasons
- Avoid fatty foods