Dr. Skoulas received one year of training in the effective treatment of patients with dental phobias. If you have sensitive teeth, a fear of dentists, bad gag reflexes, if you detest needles, or have limited time to spend at the dentist, sedation dentistry may be right for you. Sedation dentistry allows you to be sedated just enough to be pain free and unaware of the treatment, as if you were relaxing the entire time.
4 Forms Of Sedation Dentistry
- Oral Sedation or Conscious Sedation
- Nitrous Oxide sedation
- IV (intravenous) Sedation or Twilight Sleep
- General Anesthesia
Oral Sedation Or Conscious Sedation
Oral Sedation or Conscious Sedation is performed by taking an oral medication that is typically a member of the Halcion drug family or the Valium drug family. The dose provided can range from minimal to moderate depending on the nature of the procedure and your individual needs. A minimal dosage can make you feel drowsy, although you will still be awake. A larger dose or moderate level can make you feel groggy enough to put you to sleep. Although, a gentle shake can certainly wake you up.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation Or Inhaled Minimal Sedation
In this form of sedation, you breathe nitrous oxide — otherwise known as “laughing gas” — combined with oxygen through a mask that’s placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
IV (Intravenous) Sedation
This form of sedation is performed in our office by an Anesthesiologist, M.D. This procedure will result in either partial or full memory loss while the sedation drug is active in the body. As a result, the time will pass very quickly and you will not recall the dental experience. Some refer to this type of dental sedation as “sleep dentistry” or “twilight sleep” sedation.
General Anesthesia
General Anesthesia as a practice in sedation dentistry is performed by an Anesthesiologist, M.D., contracted to come into our facility to perform the anesthesia. Most medical Anesthesiologists believe that general anesthesia carries less risk than does I.V. sedation.
