Sedation Dentistry SW Calgary

Sedation Dentistry Springbank Hill

Dental anxiety or fear is one of the top reasons why most people do not visit a dentist. Even something as simple as routine dental check-ups can make them very apprehensive. So when the time comes that they have to deal with severe pain and emergency tooth extraction, they find it difficult to go to the dentist to receive the dental care they need.

To address dental anxiety, we offer sedation dentistry at Springbank Hill Dental. These are conscious sedation techniques that are proven safe and effective when it comes to patient relaxation during dental treatments. So even if you are suffering from dental worries, we can provide you with the best dental experience through sedation dentistry at Springbank Hill Dental.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry puts patients in a comfortable, “sleepy” state. At Springbank Hill Dental, we do sedation through oral, IV, or nitrous oxide. These conscious sedation techniques lower the patient’s awareness by controlling and managing anxiety, reflexes, and pain threshold.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

The modern practice of conscious sedation for dentistry has several advantages for the patient and the dental professional.

• Provides a safe procedure with a short duration of action
• It has little to no side effects
• Ideal for multiple procedures to be accomplished in just one appointment
• Relaxes enthusiastic or wary children
• Encourages efficient dental service
• Grants peace of mind before, during, and after treatment

Because of the many benefits of sedation dentistry, it is used by our dentists in Springbank Hill for several procedures. This includes teeth cleaning, deep scaling, tooth extractions, root canal therapy, and kid’s dental care treatments.

Options for Sedation Dentistry

At Springbank Hill Dental, you have the option to be administered an oral, IV, or nitrous oxide sedation. Our dentist will discuss the differences between each sedation technique to help you understand which is best suited for your treatment.

Oral Sedation

This moderate form of sedation involves prescription sedative drugs with sleepy effects. Oral sedatives are usually taken an hour before the scheduled appointment to prevent pre-treatment woes. If further relaxation is necessary, you may top up on your prescription drug before the procedure.

IV Sedation

An intravenous sedation route is a powerful form of conscious sedation used in dentistry. The procedure involves a thin needle that is introduced into the vein of the hand or arm. This is connected to a sedative medication directly delivered into the bloodstream. Depending on the treatment to be performed, your dentist can adjust the length of time for IV sedation.

Despite the potent effect, IV sedation offers the fastest onset of effects with rapid recovery time. Once the procedure is done, your dentist can simply remove the IV sedative. Then, you will slowly slip into reality with side effects usually involving very light grogginess or dizziness.

Laughing Gas

This sedation dentistry technique uses nitrous oxide gas that is inhaled to render the patient in a relaxed state of mind. It elevates the general mood; hence the term “laughing gas.” This is a very mild sedative that has been used in the practice of dentistry for many years. Usually, it is used for children because of its few side effects. Once the sedative is removed, a quick return to normal is expected.

How does Sedation Dentistry work?

While you can choose from three options for conscious sedation at Springbank Hill Dentistry, these generally produce the same effect. Here’s what you can expect during a procedure with sedation dentistry.

Preparation

You are generally advised not to eat or drink anything 6 hours before your appointment. This is unless otherwise prescribed. But, this should prepare you for possible nausea as a side effect.

Administration

Then, administering the sedative drug depends on your preferred method. Oral sedation usually involves benzodiazepines, IV is done through the venous route, and laughing gas is inhaled through a nose hood.

Conscious Sedation

The time you will be under sedation depends on the length of your treatment. For lengthy procedures such as wisdom tooth removal or multiple root canal treatment, you will need to be in a sleepy state longer. For IV and gas sedation, your dentist can top up as necessary to produce the desired effects.

Recovery

Once the sedation medicine is removed, you should slowly return to normal. Some dizziness can be expected. So, arrange your transportation to and from the clinic to prevent accidents.

You should fully recuperate from the after-effects of sedation dentistry after 24 hours. At this time, rest and stay hydrated for optimal recovery.