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3 Different Types of Sedation Dentistry

Posted by FLOSS FAMILY DENTISTRY Jan 24, 2023

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When you are scared of seeing the dentist, you can rest assured that they offer a variety of sedation options to help you stay calm and relaxed. No one likes to experience pain or stress at the dentist’s office, so sedation options help to reduce these negative feelings.

Sedation dentistry is practiced here at Floss Family Dentistry. Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental treatments. This relaxes the patient and puts them in a relaxed state so that dentists can complete complex dental procedures without causing discomfort to the patient.

At Floss Family Dentistry, we have three levels of sedation for our patients to choose from. These include:

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation dentistry uses medication to relax a patient during the procedure. This is one of the most popular forms of sedation because it offers a deeper level of relaxation, but the patient is still awake and responsive throughout their treatment. This method is suitable for patients who are nervous about an upcoming experience or those who have a hard time getting numb. It is also suitable for patients who want to make multiple visits for treatment without taking time off work.

Oral conscious sedation is particularly helpful for patients with a strong gag reflex. We can prescribe anti-anxiety medications to be taken orally at home one hour before their visit. The patient will still be able to drive themselves to their appointment and will be able to respond to questions throughout the procedure. Once the sedation takes effect, we will administer local anesthesia to ensure that the patient is comfortable while we are working on their teeth.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide sedation is among the most common types of sedation dentistry, and it’s also very safe. This gas is inhaled through a mask placed over the nose, giving the patient a feeling of euphoria and relaxation. The patient remains conscious throughout the procedure and often remembers what happened once the sedative wears off. Many patients prefer this to other forms of sedation because the effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly after the procedure is over.

Dentists use nitrous oxide in conjunction with other forms of oral sedation for a patient’s overall comfort. Dentists may choose to use it by itself or with other medications depending on their patient’s level of anxiety, medical history, and other factors.

IV Sedation

IV sedation is administered intravenously, meaning the medication is injected into your bloodstream so you can feel it quickly working its magic. You likely won’t remember it at all after you wake up from your procedure. But you may not remember much after the cleaning or exam either!

The benefit of IV sedation is that you’re able to have a stronger dose, so your dentist can perform a longer procedure. This can be especially helpful if you’re nervous about the dentist or if you need to have a lot of work performed at once. 

At Floss Family Dentistry, we offer high-quality dental services using advanced technology. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with us, call us at (801) 610-7200 or visit our dental office at 2183 West Main Street, Suite 301A, Lehi, UT 84043.

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