At Hunsaker Dental, we understand that some patients have had traumatic experiences in dentistry or have other anxieties about their treatment. Your dentists strive to make each patient comfortable and to meet your individual needs. For our anxious patients, sedation dentistry may be the answer.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that helps patients relax. It is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose.
Nitrous oxide also called “laughing gas” is one option we may offer to help make you more comfortable during your procedure. It is not intended to put you to sleep. You will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions we may have. Our doctors will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, and within a few minutes, you should start to feel the effects of the nitrous oxide. You may feel light-headed or a tingling in your arms and legs. Some people say their arms and legs feel heavy. Ultimately, you should feel calm and comfortable. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off soon after the mask is removed. Talk to us about whether nitrous oxide would be a good option for you at your next appointment.
For more information, visit www.mouthhealthy.org
Oral (Conscious) Sedation
Oral sedation dentistry allows our doctors to create a safe and anxiety-free dental experience for those who avoid the dentist out of fear.
Sedation allows us to work more effectively by helping patients become as comfortable as possible while operating well-established and proven methods. There are also a variety of sedation options that are taken orally.
Intravenous (IV) Conscious Sedation
Intravenous conscious sedation (also known as IV Sedation) is a popular method of sedation that we at Hunsaker Dental offer our patients. IV sedation is extremely popular among patients who dislike dental work because it allows them to avoid anxiety and feel completely at ease while receiving treatment.
What does it do?
While under sedation, you will be put in a relaxed state of mind. However, it does not put you to sleep. You will be able to respond to our doctors while sedated. Some patients experience partial or total amnesia while under sedation. You may not remember the procedure. However, our treatment will give you a pleasant feeling of peace. You will be aware of what is happening while it is happening. You will feel at ease with what is happening. You will be able to respond to our requests during the procedure—all this, and you won’t remember a thing!
How Does it Work
We do not use narcotics in our IV sedation. Instead, we use drugs from the benzodiazepine family. Benzodiazepines work by suppressing anxiety-inducing effects in the brain. They do nothing to prevent pain which is why we will always use a local anesthetic during any procedure which might be uncomfortable.
Is it Safe?
We at Hunsaker Dental only use sedation techniques approved by the American Dental Association. To ensure your safety, we will review your medical history and request a list of current medications that you are taking.
Applying the IV is the easiest part, just a minor prick around the wrist, and the effects of the medicine will kick in. You will feel calm during the process of your procedure will be over shortly. You may remember snippets of the process but probably not much. We require any patients undergoing sedation to have a driver that brings them and remains in the office for the duration of the procedure. The only type of sedation we use that allows a patient to drive is N2O.
The end result is a worry-free visit to our office. We care about your comfort and want you to give us a call at Salem: 503-877-1598 or Monmouth: 503-877-1590 with any questions you may have regarding IV sedation.