Alternative Sedation Options

Sedation Options

There are many people who are so scared of going to the dentist that they prefer not to have any dental treatment. This could be causing more harm and result in more dental work, and pain in the long run. For people who avoid dentists like the plague, sedation dentistry may take away some of their anxiety. Sedation dentistry uses sedative medication to help patients relax during dental procedures.

Sedation is a common part of many major dental procedures, from root canals to wisdom tooth extractions, but we also offer it to people who may be too anxious to get checkups and cleanings.

Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who have a low pain threshold, children who can’t sit still in a dentist's chair because of fear, patients with very sensitive teeth, those who have a bad gag reflex, or those who need a lot of dental work.

There are four main types of sedation dentistry:

Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide sedation is when nitrous oxide gas (also known as "laughing gas") is combined with oxygen and inhaled by the patient through a mask placed over the nose. Nitrous oxide tends to be safe for children, and most dentists are able to administer it.

Oral Sedatives
Oral sedatives are pills such as Halcion that can be given to a patient 30 minutes to an hour before the dental appointment. The pill will make the patient drowsy, although he or she will still be awake.

Some people become groggy enough from oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. An oral sedative is the most common technique of sedation dentistry used in the United States.

Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation is given through an IV into the blood vessels of the hand or arm. You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it works more quickly. Intravenous (IV) sedation allows the dentist to adjust the level of sedation. IV sedation is done only by specially licensed dentists, anesthesiologist, or oral surgeons.

If you would like more information on what kinds of sedation would be best for your next procedure, please call (818) 508–7272 today to make an appointment with Dr. Kashani. We would be happy to answer all your questions and address your concerns.