Chestermere Sedation Dentistry

If the thought of visiting the dentist makes you feel anxious and stressed, you are not alone! Dental phobia, or fear of the dental chair, reportedly occurs in up to 75% of people to one degree or another. With sedation dentistry, Chestermere Dental is here to help you receive the dental care you need. Sedation dentistry works by helping you manage your stress and anxiety so you can get the dental care you require.

Sedation dentistry uses sedatives to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state in patients. Sedation dentistry is safe, and makes it possible for patients to receive the treatment they need. You will not be unconscious, but will merely be in a deeply relaxed state. No intravenous tubes or needles are required. The goal with sedation dentistry is to feel no pain while in the dental chair and have little memory of the experience. Depending on the treatment you require and the level of sedation achieved, sedation dentistry can help you remain relaxed for two to six hours. With sedation dentistry, you can have complex treatments completed in just one visit. Sedatives range from mild to moderate in their effect and may be administered by our Calgary dentists in one of two ways; nitrous oxide sedation or oral sedation.

Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, is used to help patient’s relax during dental treatments. It is inhaled by the patient through a mask or nosepiece, and calming effects can be felt within 3-5 minutes. Your dental professional controls the amount of sedation you receive, and can adjust the dosage throughout the procedure. It produces a mild sedative effect; the patient can still hear, see and respond, but is generally relaxed with a sense of well-being. Once your dental treatment is over, you are given pure oxygen to flush the nitrous oxide out of your system. Because the nitrous oxide leaves your system so quickly, you are able to drive yourself home after the procedure.

Oral sedation is an often-requested method that empowers patients in the management of their fears and anxiety. With this method, oral sedatives are taken in pill form usually a couple of hours before the procedure. Patients typically report feeling comfortable and remembering little of the treatment, as if they slept through the treatment. Despite the experience of sleeping through the procedure, patients taking oral sedation usually maintain a level of consciousness that allows them to follow their dentist’s instructions during the procedure.

Sedation Dentistry is considered very safe. To ensure the safety of patients, dentists are required to use monitoring equipment during the procedure, including a pulse oximeter and oxygen equipment. Dentists are also required to have reversal medication agents on hand in the rare case of an adverse reaction to the sedatives. It is important to disclose any past drug use or current medical conditions so that your Chestermere Dental dentists can select an appropriate sedation for you. We suggest you bring a detailed list of your medical history, including any medications and supplements you are taking to the pre-treatment consultation.

Sedation Dentistry is sometimes referred to as sleep dentistry, but the term can be misleading. In sedation dentistry, you are not actually asleep, although you may feel sleepy due to the effects of the sedatives. Further confusing things, the term sleep dentistry is sometimes connected to the use of general anesthesia. The use of general anesthesia however, is not considered Sedation Dentistry.

You may be a candidate for sedation dentistry if:

• You have high level of fear or anxiety at the thought of visiting the dentist
• You have had traumatic dental experiences before
• You have very sensitive teeth
• You have a strong gag reflex
• You have extensive dental problems that require extensive treatment
• You are on a tight schedule – sedation dentistry allows you to receive multiple treatments during one visit
• You have difficulty becoming numb
• You just generally dislike anything to do with dentists or a dental office