Imagine you could fall asleep and while you were sleeping your dental needs were taken care of, as if in a dream … Well, wake up! You can! Sedation dentistry offers dental care in a relaxed and comfortable environment with no pain or discomfort during or after a visit. You may not even recall your visit the next day.

How does sedation dentistry work?

Sedation dentistry is achieved through the use of the same medication that is prescribed daily by physicians across the country. Due to the extreme safety of these drugs, you are most likely a candidate for treatment, if you are healthy and have had no sensitivities to the prescriptions available. According to the American Dental Association, “The use of sedation and anesthesia by appropriately trained dentists in the dental office continues to have a remarkable record of safety.”¹

The Sedation Dentistry procedure is simple:

• You will take a pill the night before treatment.
• You are asked to not eat or drink anything six hours prior to the appointment.
• You will take another pill one hour before your dental visit.
• A gas (nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas) is usually used for a short time during treatment.
• Because you will be groggy after the treatment, you will need someone to drive you home.

What’s my next step?

Talk to your dentist. Dentists who offer sedation dentistry have undergone additional training to help alleviate any concerns or fears. And, if you talk with your dentist first and understand exactly what is going to take place, you will feel more at ease during your visit. Find a dentist in your area who offers sedation dentistry.

We offer sedation dentistry at Mill City Dental, contact us to learn more.

¹Policy Statement: The Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists, American Dental Association, http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/anes_policy_statement.pdf