Sedation Dentistry
Oral conscious sedation dentistry—sometimes referred to as “relaxation dentistry”—is an option we offer to help patients become as comfortable as possible through a simple pill. Some people mistakenly call it “sleep dentistry,” but though you will feel very calm and relaxed during treatment, you will still be awake and able to respond. If you have felt fearful about dental treatment in the past, you are not alone. We want you to know that such feelings are not uncommon and people of any age can experience them. We also want you to know that we can help with oral conscious sedation!
Oral conscious sedation medications are measured and evaluated by pharmacists and physicians on a safety scale called the therapeutic index, where the higher the number on the scale, the better the safety rating. The sedation medications used by Dr. LaVecchia have high numbers on this index. When consulting with you about oral conscious sedation, Dr. LaVecchia will need to know your health history, including medications you are taking and habits such as alcohol consumption and smoking. These factors are taken into careful account, and Dr. LaVecchia will go through the proper preparation steps with you prior to your sedation visit. For example, you should not drink grapefruit juice within 72 hours before or after dental treatment with sedation.
Most patients experience little to no discomfort or remaining effects from a sedation dentistry visit. You might feel a little wobbly immediately after treatment while the medication wears off, but Dr. LaVecchia will give you simple, helpful instructions for the rest of your day. Plan to have a companion drive you to and from your appointment.
Oral Conscious Sedation Works Well for People Who:
- Have high levels of dental anxiety
- Dislike feeling numb in the mouth
- Have a strong gag reflex
- Strongly dislike the noises, smells, and tastes associated with dental treatment
- Hate needles and shots
- Are embarrassed about their teeth
We will give you just enough medicine so you can be unaware of your dental treatment, and we will closely monitor you to ensure that the sedation process is safe and goes smoothly. Thanks to oral conscious sedation, more patients can have all necessary treatment completed in one day, they regain alertness feeling refreshed, and they do not have to take more time off work. If these benefits sound like what you have been looking for, please call us to learn more! We are here to help you get the dental care you need, just the way you need it.
Nitrous Oxide or “Laughing Gas”
We offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help our patients relax. We want you to get the dental treatment you need and feel at ease during the process.
Nitrous oxide is a sweet-smelling, colorless blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide gases that can create feelings of well-being and tranquility when inhaled. Some patients even describe a sense of floating or giddiness, which is why it is called “laughing gas.” Nitrous oxide is administered through a little cone that sits on your nose, and Dr. LaVecchia has special equipment to monitor the proportion of nitrous oxide released and to adjust the flow rate to the patient. The equipment is regularly checked and calibrated, and the gas is administered by specifically trained staff.
This safe and easy dental sedation option helps many people feel comfortable during treatment, especially children and adolescents who experience dental anxiety. It has been found helpful if a patient has a gag reflex that interferes with dental treatment, and nitrous oxide can also make dental visits easier for patients with mental or physical impairments.
Normal breathing of pure oxygen for several minutes after treatment completely reverses the effects of nitrous oxide, so you will feel like yourself and be able to resume your regular daily activities.
Advantages to Nitrous Oxide:
- Nitrous oxide is probably the safest of all anesthetics used in dentistry.
- It has very few side effects or risks.
- Nitrous oxide is non-addictive and patients remain fully conscious during treatment.
- Administration of nitrous oxide is painless, involving no more than a mask over the nose.
- Pleasant feelings of calmness are felt almost immediately.
- After treatment, the effects of nitrous oxide are quickly reversed.
