Sedation Dentistry
Are you a candidate?
There are several reasons that may qualify you for sedation dentistry. We've noted just a few, so don't hesitate to contact us if you’re unsure if it’s right for you. Conscious sedation involves taking prescribed oral medication (1-2 pills) prior to coming to our dental office.
If you've experienced any of the following points, we can help:
- High fear or anxiety
- Previous traumatic dental experiences
- Very sensitive teeth
- A gag reflex
- Extensive dental problems
- A tight schedule
- Difficulty in becoming numb
- Strong dislike of dental procedures
What you should know...
Most patients report that they feel nothing just sedation dentistry. They remain relaxed and comfortable at all times during the appointment.
You won't be unconscious, but you will be in a relaxed state. You'll be responsive, but you likely won't remember much.
Since you'll be sedated, you'll need a companion to drive you to and from your appointment. When your treatment is finished, your companion will have to stay with you once you go home.
Because your comfort and well-being is important to us, one of our team members will be with you — or monitoring you — at ALL times during your visit. We'll watch your vital signs carefully to ensure your safety.
Many complicated and lengthy procedures can be completed in one — or just a few — visits using sedation dentistry. So if it's been years since your last dental visit, don't worry — we can help!
About Nitrous oxide sedation
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gas which you can breathe in. It's colourless, sweet-smelling, and nonirritating. After five minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you should feel a euphoric feeling spread throughout your body. Some people describe this feeling as “happy” or “intoxicated”, and some get the giggles.
Lewisporte Dental Clinic uses nitrous oxide to ease anxiety that patients may have toward dental treatment, and it also offers some degree of painkilling. The benefits of nitrous oxide are many, and the risks are few.
The gas is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose, and the patient is instructed to breathe in through the nose and out through their mouth. As a precaution, patients should not eat anything for about two hours prior to use of the gas. After the patient is relaxed and sedated, the dentist can comfortably give the anesthetic injection (if needed), and then proceed with dental treatment.
After the treatment is completed, the patient is given pure oxygen to breathe for about five minutes, and all the effects of sedation are usually reversed. Unlike IV sedation or general anesthesia, the patient can almost always leave the office by themselves, without an escort.
About hospital dentistry
Patients who are extremely nervous might not be good candidates for conscious sedation, and for them we suggest general anesthesia. The dentists at Lewisporte Dental Clinic have hospital privileges at the Central Health Hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor. Here, we can perform most dental procedures while the patient is asleep (under general anesthesia).