Dental Sedation
Dental anxiety and discomfort can be significant barriers to receiving essential oral care for Albertans. Dental Sedation options cater to the unique needs and concerns of different patients.
Dental Sedation is a carefully administered approach designed to alleviate anxiety, fear, and discomfort during various dental procedures.
Common Reasons for Dental Sedation might include:
- Dental Anxiety: Past traumatic experiences or general fear of dental procedures can cause anxiety when seeing the dentist. Dental sedation can help ease anxiety.
- Pain Management: Dental Procedures can sometimes involve discomfort of pain. Sedation can help manage pain by reducing a patient's awareness of the procedure and minimizing pain sensations, particularly useful for more extensive or invasive procedures.
- Gag Reflex: For those with sensitive gag reflexes, a simple dental visit can become challenging. Sedation can help with this issue.
- Sensitive Teeth: Individuals with heightened sensitivity might find dental procedures uncomfortable. Sedation helps manage this discomfort.
- Efficient Treatment: Sedation can allow dentists to complete multiple procedures in a single session.
Who is Dental Sedation For?
Dental Sedation is a carefully administered approach designed to alleviate anxiety, fear, and discomfort during various dental procedures.
Dental Sedation
If you are concerned or anxious at the dentist, you can speak to your dentist if sedation is right for you.
Who is Dental Sedation For?
- Anxious Patients: If dental anxiety prevents you from seeking necessary dental care, sedation can create a more relaxed and stress-free environment.
- Children:Younger patients who find it challenging to sit still or cooperate during procedures can benefit from sedation, ensuring a positive experience.
- Complex Procedures: Patients undergoing extensive treatments or surgeries can find comfort in sedation, making the dental visit more manageable.
- Sensitive Patients: Dental sedation works for patients with a low pain threshold or heightened sensitivity; sedation can help alleviate discomfort and allow for smoother procedures.
A dentist who uses sedation will evaluate a patient's specific needs and concerns to determine the most appropriate sedation options. All sedation types are administered with the utmost care and attention to a patient's well-being.
Types of Sedation
Depending on a patients needs, the dentist, medical history, age, overall health, and the dental procedure. The dentist will recommend the type of sedation appropriate for the patient. Scroll down to learn the different types of sedation.
Sedation is classified into two categories, Minimal Sedation and Moderate Sedation.
Minimal Sedation
The two types of Minimal Sedation include:
Oral Sedation
Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
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.
Moderate Sedation
Moderate Sedation (also known as conscious sedation) is a deeper level of sedation than minimal sedation. Patients are less aware of their surroundings and may only remember a little of the procedure, however, they are still able to respond to instructions from the dentist.
The two types of Moderate Sedation include:
Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide – 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.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation in dentistry, also known as intravenous sedation, is a method of administering sedative medications (sedative and analgesic agents) through a vein to help patients relax and feel more comfortable during dental procedures. It is a type of conscious sedation that allows patients to remain awake but relaxed and drowsy. IV sedation is administered by your dentist – a trained and licensed healthcare professional. A registered dental assistant and a dedicated trained monitoring assistant supervise the patient’s vital signs and well-being.
During IV sedation, a small IV catheter is inserted into a vein in the patient’s arm or hand, and the sedative medication is administered through the catheter. The dosage of the medication can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of sedation, which ranges from minimal to moderate. Patients remain conscious and able to respond to commands but may not remember much of the procedure.
IV sedation is typically used for patients with high anxiety or fear about dental procedures or for procedures that are expected to be lengthy or uncomfortable. It can also be used for patients who have difficulty sitting still, have a strong gag reflex, or need to undergo multiple procedures in one visit.
It’s important to note that IV Sedation is a medical procedure that requires a pre-evaluation by your dentist and post-procedure monitoring. Additionally, I.V. sedation depends on a patient-by-patient case, and some medical conditions may exclude the patients from receiving this sedation method.
IV Sedation helps to relax you, helping to reduce your anxiety, apprehension, and memory of the procedure. This method does not put you fully to sleep, but it does make you less aware of your surroundings, including what the dentist may be doing in your mouth. You can still respond to verbal commands or gentle nudging.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Sedation
- Oral, Oral + Nitrous Oxide, and Intravenous Sedation: You must not drive immediately after sedation. The drug effects can linger for several hours, impairing your coordination and judgment. It’s essential to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you post-procedure.
- Nitrous Oxide: Yes. The effects wear off quickly, and most patients can resume normal activities afterward. Often, many patients feel more comfortable if someone drives them from their appointment.
- Oral Sedation: No, you should not drive immediately after oral sedation. The effects can linger for several hours, impairing your coordination and judgment. It’s important to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for a few hours post-procedure.
- Nitrous Oxide: Yes, you can usually drive yourself home after nitrous oxide sedation. The effects wear off quickly, and most patients are able to resume normal activities afterward.
- Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide: No, you should not drive immediately after this combination of sedation. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you, as the effects can linger for a while.
- IV Sedation: No, you should not drive for the rest of the day after I.V. sedation. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for several hours as the effects may take time to wear off.
All sedations are conscious techniques, although you are relaxed and drowsy, you can still respond to your dentist or sedation team member.
Unconscious sedation is general anesthesia and requires specialized care including a dedicated anesthesiologist to administer the anesthesia. Anesthesia is available in dedicated dental clinics or hospitals.
- Oral Sedation and Nitrous Oxide: You typically will feel relaxed and drowsy, and is known as Minimal Sedation.
- Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide:You are typically conscious but deeply relaxed during this combination of sedation methods. You may have limited memory of the procedure.
- IV Sedation:IV. sedation can vary in depth, but in most cases, you are in a state of reduced consciousness. You may be able to respond to commands, but you are unlikely to remember much of the procedure.
Very young children (under 4 years of age) – pediatric dentists may use Nitrous Oxide or General Anesthesia depending on the patient and the procedures required. Discuss your child’s needs with your dentist.
- Oral Sedation: Oral sedation may be suitable for some children, depending on their age, medical history, and the complexity of the dental procedure. Pediatric dentists are skilled in assessing a child’s needs and choosing the appropriate sedation method, which may also include nitrous oxide for milder cases.
- Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide is often a suitable choice for children because it has a mild and reversible effect. It can help anxious children relax during dental procedures.
- Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide: The suitability of this combination for children depends on various factors, including the child’s age, medical history, and the procedure’s complexity.
IV Sedation: I.V. sedation is generally not recommended for very young children (under 4 years old), or difficult and complex management cases or extensive treatment needs where general anesthesia may be more appropriate.
Dental insurance coverage varies with each plan. Many plans cover all or a portion of sedation costs, especially when it’s deemed medically necessary for certain procedures. It’s best to check with your insurance provider to understand the specifics of your coverage.
- Oral Sedation: Before your procedure, you should follow your dentist’s pre-sedation instructions carefully. This may include fasting for a certain period before the appointment and arranging for someone to drive you home. Be sure to inform your dentist about any allergies or medical conditions you have and any medications you’re taking. The oral sedation pill will be administered at your dentist’s office.
- Nitrous Oxide: There is typically no special preparation required for nitrous oxide sedation. However, it’s required to discuss your medical history and any concerns with your dentist before the procedure.
- Oral Sedation + Nitrous Oxide: Follow your dentist’s pre-sedation instructions carefully. Discuss any allergies, medical conditions, or medications with your dentist. Ensure you have a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you afterward.
- IV Sedation: Before the procedure, you must follow your dentist’s pre-sedation instructions carefully. Discuss your medical history, allergies, and medications with your dentist. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you post-procedure due to the lingering effects of I.V. sedation. You cannot have any solid foods a minimum of 6 hours before you sedation, and any liquids up to 2 hours before.