In Office Sedation

in office sedation

Imagine undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When your treatment is complete, you have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort you were expecting. We are pleased to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry. Patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:

  • A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
  • A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
  • A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry allows your pediatric dentist to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:

  • Often no memory of undergoing the procedure
  • Often no sense of time while under sedation
  • Often no fear or anxiety during treatment

How are sedatives administered?

  • Inhalation — Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so you can resume your normal activities immediately.
  • Oral — An extremely common technique for dental sedation is oral sedation. It is easy and does not require the use of needles. Your child will be given a liquid medication to drink at our office on an empty stomach and after about 20-30 minutes the medication will cause your child to be very relaxed. Your older child may be given a prescription pill which, taken about an hour before your appointment, will have you them fully relaxed by the time you arrive at our office.
  • Nasal- Another option for treating children with sedation is intranasal medication. This tends to be reserved for very limited and quick procedures. The benefits of nasal medication are that they are absorbed quickly and the effects are usually very short acting. 

Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, learn more about sedation dentistry, and find out which sedation dentistry method may be right for your child.

Our Locations