Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry

Do not let dental anxiety prevent you from the care that you need.

Many patients feel anxiety about visiting the dentist. For some, it’s just another day. For others, it is stressful and may bring back old memories that cause them to avoid the dentist altogether. In most cases, avoiding treatment can only cause the problem to become more serious. If this sounds like you, it’s okay, and we understand.

  • Sedation dentistry is also known as sleep dentistry and is ideal for people who are afraid of dental procedures.
  • The cost does vary on the specific procedure but it is typically very affordable, and dental insurance may be able to help with the costs.
  • There are several sedation options available to you, and we will guide you through the process so you know what to expect.
  • There can be some minor side effects to sedation dentistry, but be assured our expert sedation team will give you all of the information you need.
  • Sedation dentistry can help with potentially painful dental procedures.

Patient comfort is the highest priority for our team at Espire Dental. We want each patient to feel comfortable at each visit as we focus on their complete oral health. For this reason, we offer several options to ease the anxiety a patient may be experiencing.

The most common options for addressing patient anxiety are:

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” is one option available to you that will help make you more comfortable during dental procedures. You will not be asleep, and you will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions. You will be asked to breathe normally through a mask over your nose, and within a few short minutes, you should start to feel the effects. This will ultimately make you feel calm and comfortable throughout your dental procedure. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off soon after the mask is removed.

Oral Sedation Medication

This safe sedation option includes the administration of an oral sedative drug (pill) to help you relax throughout the dental treatment. The use of medication additionally helps reduce memory or the sights and smells of the dental office that may cause a patient's anxiety to avoid recall of the procedure.

IV Sedation

With this method of sedation, the medication is administered through an IV directly into the patient’s system under the monitoring of our certified sedation dentists or anesthesiologist. If you suffer from extreme dental anxiety, IV sedation may be a great option. During your visit, we will assess your complete health and discuss with you in detail which sedation option may be best for your situation.