Patient Comfort
We understand that undergoing dental procedures can be difficult for some patients with significant fear and/or anxiety, an inability to get numb (anesthetized), severe gag reflex, and other medically compromised patients should consider sedation dentistry. We offer several types of sedation depending on your needs.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is commonly referred to as laughing gas. It provides mild sedation and relaxation, It has a rapid onset of action and patients return to normal within minutes of turning off the gas. Nitrous oxide provides the advantage that you can drive yourself to and from our office, it works best for those who are less nervous or just anxious about dental injections.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation uses a class of drugs called sedative/hypnotics. A dose is given approximately 30-45 minutes before the appointment, this gives the drug a chance to start working before starting your procedure. This means that you need to have someone drive you to and from our office.
Oral sedation works well for those with mild to moderate fear/anxiety. The only problem is the exact dosing and effect is a "best guess estimate." The addition of nitrous oxide sometimes overcomes under sedation, the inability to customize or titrate the amount of drug in a timely fashion is the main disadvantage of this technique.
Patients who have had successful oral sedation should be prepared to discuss which medication and dosing was successful at the prior dental procedure.
Oral sedation works well for those with mild to moderate fear/anxiety. The only problem is the exact dosing and effect is a "best guess estimate." The addition of nitrous oxide sometimes overcomes under sedation, the inability to customize or titrate the amount of drug in a timely fashion is the main disadvantage of this technique.
Patients who have had successful oral sedation should be prepared to discuss which medication and dosing was successful at the prior dental procedure.
IV Sedation
IV Sedation is when sedatives/amnesic are administered via a vein. IV sedation is more properly termed conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is a level at which you will be comfortable and unaware of the dental procedures but you will not technically be asleep. You will be able to respond to requests from your endodontist.
The drugs used for IV sedation induce deep relaxation and also produce a partial or complete memory loss/amnesia from the time the drug is first administered until it wears off. As a result typically the patient's first question after the procedure is completed is, "When are you going to start?" It is still necessary to use local anesthetics the level of sedation is not deep enough to block pain sensations. The local anesthetics are given after the patient is sedated so most patients don't remember getting numb.
IV sedation is very safe, when carried out under the careful monitoring of a specialty trained dentist. Dr. Warren has been providing IV sedation services since 1988. In fact, he was the first endodontist in Utah certified to use IV sedative techniques. IV sedation tends to be the method of sedation chosen when the patient doesn't want to be aware of the dental procedure. The alternative to IV sedation is oral sedation but it doesn't tend to be as reliably effective as IV sedation.
Please feel free to ask us about any other sedative technique, we would be happy to discuss options with you and help you make the best choice for your comfort.
The drugs used for IV sedation induce deep relaxation and also produce a partial or complete memory loss/amnesia from the time the drug is first administered until it wears off. As a result typically the patient's first question after the procedure is completed is, "When are you going to start?" It is still necessary to use local anesthetics the level of sedation is not deep enough to block pain sensations. The local anesthetics are given after the patient is sedated so most patients don't remember getting numb.
IV sedation is very safe, when carried out under the careful monitoring of a specialty trained dentist. Dr. Warren has been providing IV sedation services since 1988. In fact, he was the first endodontist in Utah certified to use IV sedative techniques. IV sedation tends to be the method of sedation chosen when the patient doesn't want to be aware of the dental procedure. The alternative to IV sedation is oral sedation but it doesn't tend to be as reliably effective as IV sedation.
Please feel free to ask us about any other sedative technique, we would be happy to discuss options with you and help you make the best choice for your comfort.
If you are scheduled for treatment at our office under IV Sedation please read our Instructions prior to Endodontic therapy under IV Sedation, or Instructions prior to Microsurgery Under IV Sedation.
