Sedation Dentistry – Prince Albert, SK
Comfortable Experiences For Every Patient
Going to the dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience for some patients, and this anxiety causes many to miss out on much needed dental care every year, leaving their teeth vulnerable to developing serious problems. For these patients, our practice is able to offer a solution that’s proven to help even the most fearful relax: sedation dentistry. Whether you’re just a little anxious or completely terrified, these treatments will ensure you always have a pleasant experience in our office, no matter what you need.
Why Choose Legacy Dental for Sedation Dentistry?
- Sedation available for any procedure
- Gentle enough for children, strong enough for adults
- Kind, friendly, & compassionate team
Oral Conscious Sedation
For patients with mild to moderate dental phobias, oral conscious sedation offers a relatively easy way to relax during dental treatment. Your sedation dentist in Prince Albert will prescribe medication for you to take on the day of your visit that should help any lingering dental nerves seem to disappear. You’ll remain awake and able to respond to simple commands during your appointment, but time will seem to fly by quickly as the necessary dentistry is completed comfortably and efficiently.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation uses pill medication to ease any nervousness you might experience while at the dentist’s office. Stronger than nitrous oxide, it helps you enter a deep state of relaxation while undergoing treatment.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Your sedation dentist will prescribe a particular medicine for you to take before your appointment. By the time you reach our office for treatment, you will feel less anxious. This also means you will need someone to bring you to your appointment and take you home.
Once you are in the treatment chair, you will already feel more relaxed, making it easy for our team to begin and work more efficiently. Throughout your visit, you will remain awake but unbothered as your dental team works to improve your oral health.
You can expect the effects of oral sedation to last several hours, so plan to take the rest of the day off work and return home to rest.
Who is a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Determining whether you are a good candidate for oral conscious sedation is the responsibility of our qualified dental team. However, some of the most common indicators of someone eligible for treatment include:
- You require multiple treatments to be performed on the same day
- You have moderate dental anxiety and regularly cancel appointments
- You have a sensitive gag reflex
- You have had traumatic dental experiences at other offices
- You have trouble getting numb with local anesthesia
- You cannot sit still for long in the treatment chair
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as “laughing gas,” is best for those patients who just need a little help “taking the edge” off for their dental visits. A patient simply inhales the odorless gas through a small mask placed over the nose, and within minutes, they should feel a deep sense of warmth and happiness. Patients wear the mask for the entire appointment. No needles required! Continue reading to learn more about nitrous oxide and who it can help.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?
Sedation dentistry is a great option for those who feel uneasy when visiting the dental office. Nitrous oxide is generally recommended for people who have the following.
- Dental anxiety
- Strong gag reflex
- Fear of needles
- Tooth sensitivity
- Difficulty sitting still
- Resistance to local anesthetics
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Before beginning your treatment, we will administer nitrous oxide through a small mask that will be placed over your nose. All you need to do is breathe like you normally do. We will adjust your flow of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas. After a few minutes, you will feel relaxed and more comfortable.
After the effects of nitrous oxide sedation kick in, we will begin your treatment. After we are done, we will remove the mask and turn off the flow of gas. The effects should quickly fade away, and you should feel back to normal after just a few minutes.
Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide
The effects of nitrous oxide don’t linger, so you only need to stay at the practice for a few minutes until you feel normal again. You can even drive yourself home afterward. Most patients are able to get back to their normal work schedule and other obligations for the day. Be sure that you closely follow any instructions provided to you by your dentist for the treatment you received.
Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Sedation dentistry can be an incredibly effective way to make oral healthcare more comfortable for most patients. Dentists have used nitrous oxide as an anesthetic for almost two centuries because it can safely reduce patients’ sensitivity to pain without any long-term side effects, and it can be an excellent sedation option for virtually everyone. Before recommending oral conscious sedation, the dentist at Legacy Dental will carefully evaluate your medical history and list of medications to ensure that you can receive the treatment safely. While the patient is sedated, our compassionate staff will carefully monitor their vitals to make sure they remain safe throughout the entire process. We’ll also be sure to provide you with detailed aftercare instructions so you can know exactly how to stay comfortable while recovering and whether you need a trusted individual to transport you to and from our office in Prince Albert for your treatment.
Will I remember anything with dental sedation?
It’s unlikely that you will experience significant memory loss if you receive nitrous oxide sedation. However, you may have difficulty recalling the details of your appointment if you receive oral conscious sedation. This can be beneficial for some especially anxious patients since it may prevent them from forming new memories that can make it more difficult for them to seek necessary dental care in the future.
What does it feel like to be sedated at the dentist’s office?
Nitrous oxide will make you feel relaxed, light, and slightly euphoric. You may also notice a slight tingling sensation in your limbs, and the effects of the drug will fade several minutes after you stop receiving it.
Oral conscious sedation, on the other hand, puts the patient into an even deeper state of relaxation and may make it difficult for them to speak or stay awake. Some patients report feeling “heavy” or a sense of time passing more quickly while sedated. The effects of oral conscious sedation will last for several hours after treatment, so it’s important to have a trusted individual drive you away from our office and monitor you while you recover.
Does dental sedation make you tell secrets?
While you have probably seen sedation treatments causing people to blab their secrets, hallucinate, or engage in strange behavior when they are depicted in movies or on TV, these portrayals are not true to life. In reality, sedation treatments will not make you behave in ways you would not otherwise or see or hear things that are not there. Even if you do say something embarrassing while sedated, you can rest assured that our team will not speak about it outside the treatment room.
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