Sedation Dentistry

We offer several different sedation options. Everything from the light, floaty feeling of laughing gas to being completely asleep and multiple options in between. Feel free to read more details below or contact us today to make an appointment and discuss your options in person. We would love to answer your questions and help you find the right option for you.

Nitrous Oxide

“Laughing gas”, or nitrous oxide, is inhaled through the nose and is used as a mild sedative. It can be used throughout the entire procedure. Nitrous oxide promotes a general sense of well-
being and generally elevates the mood. Most importantly, it lowers anxiety, and, while it does not replace the need for numbing, it does reduce pain during the procedure. In addition, some tingling and numbness may be felt throughout the body. There are few side effects associated with nitrous oxide, but they are generally mild and short lasting. It has been safely used in dentistry for many years.

Oral Anxiolytic

Valium (also called Diazepam) is a pill that is taken orally. It is used to reduce anxiety and at higher doses is used as a sedative. While it does not cause sleep, it does dull the senses and can alter the perception of time, often causing patients to feel that procedures take less time than they actually do. Valium is often used in conjunction with laughing gas to reduce anxiety levels and cause the patient to be relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure. When using this technique, we require that you have a driver to transport you to and from your appointment.

IV Sedation

“IV”, or Intravenous, sedation is a type of moderate sedation. Having an IV in place allows a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to administer sedation medications directly into the bloodstream. This allows the effects of the medications to be immedia/sites/5te and the CRNA can alter the level of sedation as needed throughout the procedure. During the entire procedure, the CRNA monitors your vital signs and makes any necessary adjustments to the medications you are receiving while the dentist concentrates on the dental procedure. After IV sedation, patients generally report feeling as though they slept through the entire procedure and generally have no memory of it. Immedia/sites/5tely following the procedure there is generally a sense of grogginess, sleepiness, and sometimes confusion (we’ve all seen the YouTube videos of patients after they have had their wisdom teeth removed). Consequently, we require that you have a driver transport you home after your IV sedation appointment.

General Anesthesia

We have partnered with Mountain View Hospital to offer dental treatment to our patients in a hospital setting. During general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious and a breathing tube is placed by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who continually monitors vital signs and is ready to handle any medical emergency that may arise. Various medications are administered through an IV. After the procedure, the patient is monitored at the hospital until they are stable, before being released to go home with a responsible driver. Generally, this type of sedation for dental procedures is used on small children, disabled patients, or patients whose health conditions make it unsafe to perform sedation outside of a hospital setting.

If you have any questions or concerns about the options we offer, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Some reasons people prefer some form of sedation are:

• Anxiety caused by dental visits
• Level of dental procedures required. Such as Implants, Root Canals or Pediatric Dentistry
• Preference to relax

Hospital Dental Services

Sometimes a patient’s needs are such that they require much more delicate and monitored care to perform a dental appointment. We work closely with local hospitals to arrange operating rooms with anesthesiologists to perform these necessary procedures. People that might meet this criteria include:

• People who have crippling anxiety about dental work
• People who cannot hold still for the duration of a dental appointment (young children, mental impairments)
• Special health considerations

Our hospital services are a service that we provide because we know how much it benefits those in need. Please consider this wonderful option to safely and confidently get dental procedures performed, while ensuring safety and comfort throughout.