Sedation Dentistry

Patients who fear the dentist often seek treatment from a dentist offering sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is the administration of sedative drugs, either in pill form by mouth, through inhalation or intravenous application. These techniques tend to relax patients during dental procedures. Sometimes patients are so relaxed during the appointment that they don’t even remember the procedures afterwards. Sedation dentistry is particularly helpful for patients who have a strong dental phobia, have trouble getting numb for procedures, require extensive restorative work or have extremely sensitive teeth. Most procedures still require local anesthesia even with the use of sedation.

If you are considering sedation dentistry, it is important that your dentist knows your entire health history, including any medications you may be taking which could react with the sedative drugs. Many general dentists now offer sedation dentistry through the use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) which can be inhaled and does not require an IV.