What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a pain-free method of dentistry that relies on various forms of anesthetics to numb sensation and promote relaxation. At Cottage Dental, the dentists and board-certified anesthesiologist offer:
- Laughing gas (nitrous oxide)
- Sedative pill
- General anesthesia
Your dentist helps you choose the best type of sedation dentistry for your or your child’s needs.
Why would I need sedation dentistry?
At Cottage Dental, you may find you don’t need sedation dentistry at all. The dentists perform most tooth and gum procedures with Solea® lasers, not drills and scalpels, so you don’t feel pain and your procedure is over very quickly.
However, if you or your child has dental anxiety or must undergo a lengthy procedure, sedation dentistry keeps you comfortable. Other reasons to choose sedation dentistry include:
- Past traumatic dental experiences
- Easily triggered gag reflex
- Trouble becoming numb
- Sensitive teeth
Sedation dentistry is particularly helpful if you, your child, or another family member has special needs and can’t tolerate sitting still in the treatment chair for long periods.
Can children use sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is appropriate for kids of all ages and may keep them extra safe during dental procedures.
Because sedation dentistry relaxes them, they’re less likely to move or jostle the dentist’s hand or instruments. Sedation dentistry, particularly with nitrous oxide, also helps ease any fear of the dentist they may have.
What happens if I get laughing gas?
When you or your child gets laughing gas, you inhale nitrous oxide through a special mask. You may feel a warm and tingling sensation or feel nothing at all.
Within five minutes, you feel very calm and relaxed, but can still communicate with the dentist. You don’t fall asleep.
After your dental procedure, your dentist gives you pure oxygen to breathe that clears the laughing gas from your lungs. You completely recover within 2-3 minutes.
What happens when I take a sedative or have general anesthesia?
If you take a sedative pill, you’ll probably fall asleep for your entire procedure. You’ll be sleepy afterward and will need someone to drive you home.
When you choose general anesthesia for a complex procedure — such as full mouth reconstruction — the Cottage Dental anesthesiologist puts you deeply to sleep so that you feel no pain and don’t have any awareness of the procedure. After your operation, you need someone to drive you home.
Contact Cottage Dental and Kid's Corner Dental about sedation dentistry today. Call the friendly staff during office hours or use the convenient online booking form.
