We provide sedation from mild through deep, in our own offices. For many patients that removes the need to go to a hospital for treatment under deep sedation — a genuinely unusual capability in a private dental practice.
What sedation options do you offer?
Three, at different depths. Before any sedative is given, we review your full medical history and current medications.
Nitrous oxide
A mild sedative, delivered through a nose hood throughout the procedure. It lifts mood, relieves anxiety and reduces pain, sometimes with mild tingling or numbness. Side effects are few, it has been used safely in dentistry for decades, and it wears off quickly — so you can usually drive yourself home.
Oral conscious sedation
A good choice if needles are the problem. Medication taken before the appointment induces a moderate state of sedation, topped up during treatment if needed. It does not put you to sleep, but it dulls the senses enough that most patients do not remember the sounds, smells or discomfort of the procedure. The drugs used are typically benzodiazepines, chosen by how long their effect lasts relative to your appointment — shorter-acting agents for brief visits, longer-acting ones for complex work. Arrange a ride home.
IV sedation
Moderate sedation delivered directly into the bloodstream, so the effect is immediate. Patients frequently describe having slept through the entire procedure. You may feel groggy afterwards, so a designated driver is required.
Who is sedation for?
Patients with genuine dental anxiety or a phobia, patients with a strong gag reflex, patients facing long or complex treatment such as full-arch implant surgery, and special needs patients for whom conventional treatment is difficult.
Is it safe?
These are established techniques with long safety records when administered by trained clinicians who have reviewed your medical history. Tell us about every medication and supplement you take, including over-the-counter ones — interactions matter more than most people expect.