Plenty of our patients have not seen a dentist in years, and for most of them the reason was fear rather than time or money. We treat that as a clinical problem to solve, not something to talk you out of.

Springbank Hill Dental offers nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Dr. Wes Prepchuk and Dr. Nicholas Wong are certified in both. Dr. Lindsay Davidson provides nitrous oxide. Sedation is available for any appointment, including a first cleaning or a checkup, and you do not have to justify wanting it.

Not only for major surgery. Common reasons patients ask for it:

• Anxiety or fear that has kept you out of a dental chair, sometimes for years
• A strong gag reflex that makes X-rays or impressions difficult
• A long appointment, or several treatments combined into one visit
• Difficulty getting numb, or a past experience where freezing did not work properly
• Trouble sitting still or keeping the mouth open comfortably
• A previous dental experience that went badly

If any of that describes you, say so when you book rather than when you arrive. Planning the appointment around it works far better than improvising on the day.

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)

You breathe a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small hood over your nose. It takes effect within a few minutes and leaves you relaxed and slightly detached while fully awake and able to talk to us.

The practical advantages are considerable. There is no fasting requirement, so eat normally beforehand. We can adjust the level up or down during the appointment. And it clears within about five minutes of breathing pure oxygen at the end, which means you can drive yourself home and go back to work. No escort needed.

Nitrous suits adults and children equally. It is often the right starting point for someone nervous about sedation itself.

Oral sedation

A prescription sedative taken before your appointment, producing a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous. Many patients remember little of the appointment afterwards, which is often the point.

Oral sedation carries real requirements. You will be given fasting instructions and you must follow them. You will need a responsible adult to bring you and take you home, and you cannot drive for the rest of the day. Drowsiness commonly persists for several hours. We will review your full medical history and every medication and supplement you take before prescribing, because sedatives interact with a long list of other drugs.

Only take the dose we prescribe, at the time we specify. If it does not feel like enough, tell us when you arrive. Any additional dose is given by us, in the clinic, with monitoring.

Nitrous oxide and oral sedation both have long records of safe use in dentistry, and Alberta regulates who is permitted to provide each. They are not, however, risk-free, and any page telling you sedation has no side effects is not being straight with you.

Nitrous can cause nausea, particularly on a very full or completely empty stomach, and occasionally headache or light dizziness that passes quickly. Oral sedatives can cause prolonged drowsiness, unsteadiness, and memory gaps around the appointment, and they interact with alcohol, opioids, some antidepressants, and other medications.

Sedation may not be appropriate if you are pregnant, have certain respiratory conditions, have sleep apnoea, take particular medications, or have specific cardiac or neurological conditions. This is why the medical history review happens before anything is prescribed rather than as a formality at the desk.

Before. We review your medical history, current medications, and any previous experience with sedation. You get written instructions covering eating, medication, and whether you need someone to drive you. For oral sedation you will be asked to arrange an escort at this point, not on the day.

During. Nitrous begins working within minutes and is adjusted through the appointment. Oral sedation is taken beforehand at the time we specify. Either way we monitor you throughout, and you remain conscious and able to respond.

After. Nitrous clears in around five minutes on pure oxygen and you leave as you arrived. With oral sedation, expect drowsiness for several hours, no driving for the rest of the day, and someone with you at home. Rest, keep fluids up, and eat something light when you feel ready.

Call Springbank Hill Dental at (403) 454-4757 and tell us you would like to discuss sedation. We are at 133-7460 Springbank Blvd SW, open from 7:00 am Wednesday through Saturday and until 8:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. New patients are welcome, no referral is needed, and parking is free.