Suffer from Dental Anxiety no more.
With the help of Dental Sedation
Suffer From Dental Anxiety No More
With Dental Sedation
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry allows patients to be more relaxed while they are in the dental chair. Patients often have a lowered awareness and are in a more relaxed state. Sedation dentistry can be used for dental procedures to a routine teeth cleaning.
Do You Struggle with Dental Anxiety?
If you ever feel tense or anxious about visiting your dentist? Would you rather suffer the pain of a toothache than be in a dental chair? Well, you’re not alone. Many people feel afraid to see the dentist or have dental anxiety. Dental sedation may be the option for you.
What is Dental Sedation
Dental sedation is an important and integral part of dental treatment. For most patients, local anesthesia or freezing is all that they need. For others, treatment is not possible without some way to relax, reduce fears or anxieties, decrease pain, discomfort, and awareness, and works exceptionally well for those who have a high gag reflex.
How Do I Know If Me or a Loved One is a Good Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is ideal for the following people:
- People who experience anxiety or feel nervous to visit the dentist
- Have a low pain threshold
- Patients who need a tooth or teeth extracted including Wisdom Teeth
- Require large amounts of dental work
- Experience severe tooth sensitivity
How Do I Know If Me or a Loved One is a Good Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is ideal for the following people:
- People who experience anxiety or feel nervous to visit the dentist
- Have a low pain threshold
- Patients who need a tooth or teeth extracted including Wisdom Teeth
- Require large amounts of dental work
- Experience severe tooth sensitivity
What Should To Expect From Lobb Dental When It Comes To Sedation Dentistry?
The Initial Consultation
The Lobb Dental will inspect your mouth and view any area of concern.
Afterwards, the team will review any pre-existing medical conditions you might have. Different conditions might affect different sedation options.
If you are receiving I.V. Sedation, the Lobb Dental team will fill out a form that includes your body measurements and initial vitals. These measurements and vitals are collected so the patient can be appropriately monitored while under the influence of sedation.
Preparation
Patients are recommended to not eat or drink anything 5 hours prior to their appointment (unless directed otherwise).
Administration
The sedative drugs can be given in various ways, including orally or through intravenous. The Lobb Dental team will let you know what to expect.
Relaxation
After receiving the sedative, you should begin to feel relaxed. However, you will still remain alert and responsive enough to answer questions. The Lobb Dental team will monitor you throughout your entire visit to ensure your comfort needs are met.
Recovery
Post-treatment you will feel little to no side effects caused by the sedative. If you opt for sedation dentistry done through I.V. sedation, patients must be driven and accompanied by a responsible adult to and from the appointment. It is important to relax and recover after a procedure. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
The Initial Consultation
The Lobb Dental will inspect your mouth and view any area of concern.
Afterwards, the team will review any pre-existing medical conditions you might have. Different conditions might affect different sedation options.
If you are receiving I.V. Sedation, the Lobb Dental team will fill out a form that includes your body measurements and initial vitals. These measurements and vitals are collected so the patient can be appropriately monitored while under the influence of sedation.
Preparation
Patients are recommended to not eat or drink anything 5 hours prior to their appointment (unless directed otherwise).
Administration
The sedative drugs can be given in various ways, including orally or through intravenous. The Lobb Dental team will let you know what to expect.
Relaxation
After receiving the sedative, you should begin to feel relaxed. However, you will still remain alert and responsive enough to answer questions. The Lobb Dental team will monitor you throughout your entire visit to ensure your comfort needs are met.
Recovery
Post-treatment you will feel little to no side effects caused by the sedative. If you opt for sedation dentistry done through I.V. sedation, patients must be driven and accompanied by a responsible adult to and from the appointment. It is important to relax and recover after a procedure. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
What Types of Sedation Are There?
Oral Sedation
Oral Sedation involves commonly swallowing a sedative pill or placing it below your tongue. As the oral sedative can affects everyone differently and typically you will need someone to assist you by driving you home and staying with you for the remainder of the day.
Nitrous Oxide & Oxygen – ‘Laughing Gas’
Nitrous Oxide or sometimes referred to as Laughing Gas, is a mild sedative inhaled through a small mask placed over the nose. The laughing gas works quickly to relax patients, the mild sedative agent effectively manages pain and anxiety during dental treatment. Patients can often feel its effects in minutes.
N20 is a safe and effective method for sedation. It can help to reduce anxiety and discomfort, but it wears off quickly, so you can drive yourself home after the procedure. Nitrous Oxide does not put you to sleep, so you can hear and respond to any dentist’s questions or instructions. The advantage of Nitrous Oxide is that it can be titrated (increased or decreased) to meet the patient’s needs.
Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen
An option combining oral sedation and nitrous oxide. The combination helps patients to be in a deeper level of sedation than either Oral or Nitrous Oxide. Works an alternative to the options above at a slightly deeper level of sedation.
We call this level of sedation moderate sedation.
Intravenous (I.V.) Sedation
Often the best option for those with high anxiety or when the dental procedures are more involved, such as tooth extraction, wisdom teeth removal, bone and soft tissue grafting or long root canal or crown procedures. I.V. sedation does not put you fully to sleep but is does make you less aware of your surroundings. You can still respond to verbal commands or a gentle nudging. Both sedative and analgesic drugs are administered intravenously in a vein in you arm or hand. Your vital signs will be fully monitored, just like in a hospital. This level of sedation involves three persons: the dentist who administers the sedation and does your treatment, and Registered Nurse who monitors and looks after your wellbeing and a Registered Dental Assistant who assist with the procedure.
Are you still avoiding the dentist out of fear?
To learn more about sedation dentistry, contact us at 780-488-0907 or email us at lobbdent@telus.net
Dr. Lobbs Experience
Dr. Lobb and his team are fully trained in these forms of sedation and maintain permits issued by the Alberta Dental Association and College.
Before any sedation appointment, Dr Lobb and the Lobb Dental team will review your needs, and will provide you with important and appropriate information for how to prepare yourself before, during and after any sedation.
Book a Sedation Dentistry Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for oral sedation to kick in?
Oral sedation will usually kick in within 20 – 30 minutes. After that, you will feel calm, relaxed or even tired; these are all usual effects to feel.
How long does dental sedation last?
Sedation options may wear off immediately or can last a few hours. Nitrous Oxide or ‘laughing gas’ wears off as soon as the procedure is completed. As it’s inhaled, the effects quickly wear off after it’s shut off.
Oral sedation and I.V. sedation do tend to lead to more drowsiness. The drug can still take a few hours to complete work its way out of your system. It can take anywhere from 3-6 hours before it starts to wear off. It is prohibited that you drive or operate heavy machinery that same day.
What are the side-effects of dental anesthetic?
“General” anesthesia typically makes your entire body sleepy or relaxed. “Local” anesthesia is a numbing medication that affects the immediate area where the medicine was injected.
The side effect of local dental anesthetics is the numbness you might have. Your face can feel numb for 3 -5 hours after the anesthesia was administered. Be careful not to chew or bite your mouth in this time.
Will I feel any pain while I'm sedated?
Dental Sedation helps your body and mind to relax. However, it doesn’t completely numb you to feeling. You will usually feel a bit of pressure. If you find you find you have extreme pain, let Dr. Lobb know and he can add additional local anesthetic to that area of the mouth to minimize any feeling.
Lobb Dental
Schedule Your Appointment
Call us at 780-488-0907 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your appointment today!