Sedation Dentistry

Wake up to a new smile with dental sedation in La Mesa, California!

No matter the level of fear or anxiety you may feel when you think about going to the dentist, Dr. Gray and Dr. Hurtado can help you have a pleasant dental experience. Dr. Gray has received extensive special training to become a sedation dentist and is among the leaders in the US in using dental sedation. Patients come from all over Southern California to San Diego to be treated by Dr. Gray using this comfortable, safe, and effective system. We are happy to give you any information you need to help you feel at ease thinking about sedation dentistry.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

Oral Conscious Sedation

IV Sedation Dentistry

Is Dental Sedation Right For Me?

WHAT IS SEDATION DENTISTRY?

Sedation dentistry is a wonderful way to help people who have a fear of the dentist receive the dental care they need. The patient will take a prescribed pill orally before coming to the dentist’s office and will then be relaxed and comfortable during the entire dental visit.

A qualified sedation dentist like Dr. Gray will then be able to perform the needed dental care. The patient can still respond to the sedation dentist but will not feel any pain, remembering little or nothing of the experience. The patient feels almost as if he/she were asleep, so many people call dental sedation “sleep dentistry.”

The medicine that Dr. Gray or Dr. Hurtado prescribe is called Triazolam. It is a small blue pill taken about 1 hour before your visit. This tablet has been prescribed over 10 million times per year, by physicians, for patients to use at home.

This dental sedation drug has almost no side effects or interaction with other medicines you may currently be taking. A qualified sedation dentist like Dr. Gray or Dr. Hurtado will also constantly monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels during your appointment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SEDATION DENTISTRY?

Sedation dentistry allows you to comfortably undergo every procedure, from a simple cleaning to extensive treatment. For those with severe dental anxiety, dental sedation can be the answer to receiving the dental care you need.

San Diego dentist Dr. Jeff Gray of La Mesa, California explained in an interview that it is common for him to see patients that are extremely afraid of the dentist.

One of the additional benefits of dental sedation is that the medicine has an amnesia quality, which, for most patients, tends to prevent almost any memory of the visit. It is sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry” because of this and its other pleasant effects. Amazingly, sedation dentistry can also reduce or eliminate the pain associated with dental procedures.

Dental sedation enhances the effectiveness of anesthetic.
Gagging is decreased during “sleep dentistry.”
The patient does not feel as much joint and muscle soreness after dental sedation.
Sedation dentistry allows more treatments to be provided in a shorter time, which could decrease the total number of visits.
Patients remember little or nothing regarding the procedures performed by the sedation dentist.

How does dental sedation work?

Understandably, many who first learn of dental sedation have questions about the safety of the procedure as well as the actual technical details of how dental sedation works.

At Jeff Gray, DDS in La Mesa, we offer several methods of sedation dentistry, including oral conscious sedation and IV sedation. Both of these options have an outstanding record of success and safety.

Dr. Gray has successfully administered sedation dentistry for over 5,000 cases in the San Diego community. That should give you a little comfort when considering dental sedation.

ORAL CONSCIOUS SEDATION DENTISTRY

Oral conscious sedation has been employed for years and has a great track record of success. This dental sedation option can be administered in pill form or under the tongue for rapid absorption. Patients love oral conscious sedation dentistry because it is fast-acting, comfortable, and effective.

It truly is remarkable that dental technological advances, including dental sedation, have brought us to the point where even those with severe dental phobia can get the high-quality dental treatments they need to achieve and maintain optimal oral health.

With our New Patient Special we offer Oral sedation at no additional charge (some limitations apply).

IV SEDATION DENTISTRY

We also offer IV sedation with a Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologist for those patients who want to be totally out or have medical conditions that would require this for their health or safety. The IV sedation does have a fee that would be discussed prior to a visit. Dr Gray and Dr Hurtado are happy to help the patient decide which might be the best choice for them based on their specific situation.

Is dental sedation right for me?

Dental sedation is a phenomenal option for many people and has its place and purpose. Though we have had great success with dental sedation and a proven track record of safety, dental sedation is not for everyone. We usually offer dental sedation to two main groups of people in the San Diego vicinity.

Dental Anxiety

Many people have a deep fear of the dentist and have struggled with it for years. These people often have neglected smiles because they have put off going to the dentist due to fear of pain or the “normal” dental treatment.

Many of our older dental sedation patients had traumatic dental experiences in their earlier years before modern dental technology brought speed and comfort in dental treatments up to where it is today. Horror stories of terrible root canals, extractions, drillings, etc. haunt people and cause a deep fear of the dentist.

This fear has often followed them into their later years and prevents them from regularly seeing the dentist for needed dental work. As a result, patients procrastinate getting needed hygiene and maintenance, leading to larger and more expensive treatments down the road.

Younger people experience dental anxiety as well. Whether it’s fear of needles, feeling trapped, not trusting a previous dentist, etc. dental sedation can help remove the fear of the dentist, so you can get the dental care you need at our La Mesa dentist office.

If you fit in either category, dental sedation may be just the solution you need. Imagine actually feeling relaxed at the dentist. Even if you have the most acute dental anxiety, dental sedation can help you. You may just be amazed at how effective it is.

Busy People

Yes, we have a few busy people in San Diego. We often have new patients that just don’t have the time to receive more extensive dental treatment spread out over a lengthy period. For those in this category, sedation dentistry enables you to receive needed extensive dental treatment all in one visit.

The ability to perform multiple dental procedures at once helps our busy patients save time and frustration as we improve their dental health. This is just one more remarkable thing that sedation dentistry can do for our patients!

Patient testimonials of conscious sedation

Here’s what a few of our patients had to say about their sleep dentistry experiences…

Dear Dr. Gray, I was ashamed and embarrassed to seek care for my teeth because fear had kept me out of a dentist’s office for over 20 years. I actually called some dentists and explained my phobia and was told that they could not help me. I would hear ads about Jeff Gray DDS, but having never placed much credibility in radio ads, I ignored them. Finally, I decided to e-mail Jeff Gray DDS – Sedation and Cosmetic Dentistry. Within 24 hours I received a kind, gently encouraging response from Dr. Gray. I called and went in (with my husband) for a consultation. Dr. Gray and Carla were wonderful. They were reassuring and compassionate. I did not feel as crazy and embarrassed as I had before I walked in their office. After 20 years, obviously I needed quite a bit of work done. In two visits I was finished! I took their “sleep pills” 60 minutes before each visit and slept through all of the work. By taking the sleep pills I may not have totally conquered my phobia, but I consider the pills a tool to help me get through something that is necessary for my physical well being. The staff is understanding and they, along with Dr. Gray, follow up with phone calls to make sure that everything is OK. It’s a 90 mile round trip for me but it is worth it. I still can’t believe that I actually went back to the dentist! Thank you, Dr. Gray and Carla! Thanks again for everything. – Luanne S (Encinitas, California)

“Thanks, I’m delirious (I think I was)”

“Thanks for making my root canal visit a time I’ll never remember. I don’t even remember a scene from the movie. It was great. I appreciate your care and concern.”

“After my visit I went home, slept for an hour and then went shopping with my daughter. Truly amazing.”

“I can’t believe I slept through the whole thing.”

“You have changed my life and given me back my youthful smile. I can’t thank you enough. I’m telling all my friends and I’m not scared anymore… Just wonderful!”

RELAX AT OUR SAN DIEGO DENTIST OFFICE!

If you would like to relax comfortably while receiving dental care, sedation dentistry may be right for you. We are proud to offer oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, and laughing gas depending on your level of anxiety or the treatment you are undergoing. Come visit San Diego sedation dentist Dr. Jeff Gray and learn more about dental sedation. Contact our office in La Mesa, California today or fill in the form on this page, and we will contact you.

If you are looking for a more detailed explanation about the sedation dentistry procedures or patient comforts that Dr. Jeff Gray and Dr. Greg Hurtado provide, schedule your appointment today. We want to give you peace of mind when making the decision to pursue sedation dentistry with us if you are in the San Diego area, from La Mesa to El Cajon!