Sedation Dentistry Near You
Dental phobia is, unfortunately, very common among patients of all ages. Why? Because a large majority of people are afraid of experiencing pain while in the dentist’s chair and because they are unsure what to expect during their treatment.
If this is something you deal with, remember that you’re not alone. We can address these issues with the help of sedation dentistry. At Heritage Family Dental, our team helps patients fix their smiles and stay relaxed at the same time by offering IV sedation (conscious sedation), nitrous oxide (also known as ‘laughing gas’) and oral sedation (Lorezepam/Ativan). We will work with you and personalize your specific sedation method to best suit your needs, to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. We highly encourage you to come in and learn more about this treatment; our staff is happy to help you out!
Looking Closely at Dental Sedation
Dental sedation is a unique branch of oral healthcare; it’s devoted to helping patients remain calm and comfortable at the dentist. After all, fear and anxiety shouldn’t prevent you from acquiring the care you need to stay healthy and happy.
What It Can Address
If any of the following apply to you or a loved one, you may be a suitable candidate for dental sedation near you:
- An overactive gag reflex
- High sensitivity
- Difficulty sitting still
- Need a long or complex procedure
- Have special needs
- Low pain tolerance
- Fear of dental appointments
- Feel claustrophobic in the dental chair
Types of Sedation
Heritage Family Dental offers 3 different modalities of sedation; the most appropriate method for you depends on your age, current health state, the extent of the invasiveness, and, more importantly, what our team recommends.
- Oral Sedation (Ativan/lorazepam): This is a pill you can take to help reduce the psychological anxiety patients experience. It will not “knock you out”, but it produces some amnesia and drowsiness even though you are fully awake. You just might not worry or care as much.
- Nitrous Oxide: This is a gas breathed in through the nose from a nasal hood. This again does not “knock you out”. It produces a floating, tingling, full-body buzz for a few minutes that helps reduce pain and anxiety felt during the injections. That heavy buzz mellows out after a time and then becomes an uplifting, relaxing effect in the background. You are fully awake, and there are mixed reviews on the feeling one gets on nitrous oxide, but it is a very safe method, and Dr. Allred especially uses it for multiple injections on young children.
- IV Sedation: This is one level of sedation below “general anesthesia”. We place an IV through which drugs are administered directly into your bloodstream for almost instant effect. Because of this, we are able to give little by little until the desired effect is reached and the dangers of over or under-sedating you are minimized. Strong amnesia and analgesia are obtained. These drugs act fast and wear off fast as well, allowing you to walk away shortly afterward with your chaperone. In some cases, patients can also receive general anesthesia, which is frequently used in hospitals. A dentist must be qualified to administer this; an anesthesiologist may even be brought in to assist.
You will need to have a consultation with our Red Deer Dentists before receiving this type of care. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for sedation dentistry.
Talk with Our Experts to Learn More
Heritage Family Dental provides sedation dentistry treatment; if this is something that you, a friend, or a family member are interested in, contact us today. We’ll put you in touch with one of our dentists near you! We are to ensure your time with us is as smooth as it can be!