Sedation

Conscious Sedation is defined as a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains the patient's ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation and verbal command and that is produced by pharmacological or nonpharmacologic method or combination thereof.

Sedation Dentistry, sometimes called Relaxation Dentistry, refers to the way dentist's  manage Pain and Anxiety during dental appointments.

Unlike General Anesthesia where a patient is completely unconscious, asleep, and unable to respond,  patients under Conscious Sedation, are able to respond to commands and breath on their own. 

There are actually 14 different ways that sedation drugs can be administered. Here is what is available in our office: 

• Inhalation Conscious Sedation, Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation also known as "laughing gas". This is the most frequently used sedation method used  in dentistry. All bodily functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on their own. The patient will often fall asleep and experience some degree of amnesia about what happened during their dental appointment. Inhalation Sedation has been used my dentists for many years.
• Other forms of sedation could be discussed with the dentist. 
        

Sedation Dentistry

Inhalation Conscious Sedation

Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen ("laughing gas") has been used as the most frequent and primary means of Sedation used in Dentistry for many years. 35% of all US dentists offer Nitrous Oxide Sedation to their patients. 

Advantages or Dental Inhalation Sedation:

• Works well for mild to moderate anxiety
• Rapid Onset
• Flexible duration can be used for any appointment length
• Absolute Control. It is easy to quickly control the level of sedation which may be altered moment to moment. 
• People recover quickly
• Very few side effects
• There is an analgesic effect
• You can drive yourself to and from your dental appointment
• You can return to normal activities immediately

• Severe anxiety may require a deeper level of sedation
• Not indicated for people who have respiratory problems (Asthma and Emphysema)
• Claustrophobic patients do not like anything covering their nose

• Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• Oxygen (O2)