Sedation dentistry is when you have a procedure done under sedation. At Clinique Dentaire ADF we offer two types of sedation: oral sedation, which comes in the form of a pill, and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Patients choose to have a procedure performed using sedation dentistry for some of the following reasons:
- Experience dental fear or anxiety
- Have a low pain threshold
- Have very sensitive teeth
- Can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair
- Need a large amount of dental work completed
- Have a bad gag reflex that makes dental visits unpleasant
- Do not want to know what is happening during a procedure
The type of dental sedation used depends on the patient’s preferences and reasons for having it. Below we have briefly outlined oral sedation and nitrous oxide.
Oral sedation takes a longer time than nitrous oxide because you will need to take the medication and wait for it to take effect before having the procedure performed. With oral sedation the patient may feel sleepy and it is likely the patient is relaxed and not bothered by what is happening. The effect of oral sedation is that patients experience temporary amnesia of the appointment, patients must be accompanied by someone after the procedure and cannot drive or make important decisions.
Nitrous oxide works within two or three minutes after being administered. Unlike oral sedation the dentist has control over the depth of sedation, which can be altered from moment to moment. The effects of nitrous oxide are almost instantaneous and can be easily reversed by introducing higher levels of oxygen. The patient remains conscious during the procedure and in control. This is a milder option than oral sedation but still allows the patients to relax and eliminated the nervousness and tension that may be associated with dental procedures.
If you have questions about dental sedation please contact us. We are very happy to sit down with you to discuss which option is best suited for your needs.
Clinique dentaire ADF 