We understand that for many people, sitting in a dentists' chair strikes a lot of fear. Some people endure the agony of a toothache for long periods of time, just to avoid stepping foot in a dentist's office! For this reason, Apple Tree Dental offers dental sedation procedures to help patients feel more at ease. IV/Oral Conscious Sedation is a dental procedure that uses medications administered by an IV or orally to induce drowsiness and relieve anxiety. We take dental sedation very seriously and do our best to provide a comfortable and safe dental experience for all of our patients.
There are several different ways that patients can be given dental sedation at Apple Tree Dental. These common types include IV (intravenous) conscious sedation, or oral conscious sedation, or inhalation. Using a combination of medications, we can create a comfortable environment where you'll feel most relaxed throughout your visit.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is also known as Intravenous Conscious Sedation, allows the patient to be awake and alert throughout the procedure. IV sedation creates a relaxed state that does not require the patient to feel any pain or anxiety during the dental procedure. IV sedated patients are aware of their surroundings, able to communicate with others in the room and remember all events surrounding their procedures.
Oral Conscious Sedation
The oral conscious sedation process involves the use of oral sedatives before the dental treatment begins. Patients requiring oral sedation will be given medication to relax and take orally about an hour before the dental procedure. The oral conscious sedation is designed not only to minimize anxiety but also to prevent nausea that sometimes accompanies IV/Inhalation Conscious Sedation. Patients who are administered sedation may drift off to sleep, but remain conscious and can be woken up with a gentle touch. We find that oral conscious sedation greatly benefits our patients for these reasons:
• Patients have very little, if any, memory of the procedure • Maintains a comfortable and relaxed environment • Can make recovery time faster • It is greatly effective • The ease of drug administration • Lower cost • Patients are kept conscious during the procedure
Inhalation Sedation “Laughing Gas”
Commonly known as "laughing gas", inhalation sedation (or inhalation anesthesia) is the administration of a drug in a mask placed over the nose for inhalational general anesthesia and/or conscious sedation. The most commonly used inhalable agents are nitrous oxide and xenon. Inhalations cannot be self-administered by the patient; they must be administered by trained dental personnel who have been specifically trained to use these techniques when working with patients.
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If you suffer from anxiety or just don't like visiting the dentist, Apple Tree Dental offers sedation options to go along with our dental procedures that might help make your trip to our office more comfortable!
