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Oral
Sedation
At  ,
Oral sedation is an ideal sedation option for those with moderate
to severe anxiety about dental treatment.
What is it?
Most commonly, oral sedation (anti-anxiety medication)
is prescribed for relieving anxiety in the hours immediately before
a dental appointment. The medication is taken in the office under
supervision 1 hour before your scheduled appointment.
What are the Benefits?
- It allows you to comfortably undergo
everything from a simple cleaning to extensive treatment. One
of the additional benefits is that the medicine has an amnesia
quality which for most patients, tends to prevent almost any
memory of the visit.
- It enhances effectiveness of anesthetic.
- It decreases gagging.
- It decreases joint and muscle soreness.
- It Allows more treatment to be provided
in a shorter time, which could decrease total number of visits.
How Long Does It Last?
For most patients, the effects
last between 2-4 hours, so we require you to have someone drive
you home.
Am I Really Asleep?
Most patients do tend to fall asleep, however you
can still respond to verbal commands. Even the most apprehensive
patients have been ecstatic with the results.
Contraindications include:
- Pregnant or nursing mother
- Known allergy to benzodiazepines
- Depression / bipolar / psychoses
- Taking MAO inhibitors
- Alcohol intoxication
- Severe respiratory disease (COPD), chronic
bronchitis or emphysema
Cautions include:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Impaired kidney or liver function
If you're taking ANY medications,
be sure to tell us.
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Laughing
Gas (Nitrous Oxide)
The reason for using Nitrous Oxide or laughing
gas is for its calming effect. Since it doesn't numb the teeth,
anesthetic is still necessary. It just has the nice effect of
making a person more relaxed.
 You'll
breathe Nitrous Oxide in through a small mask that covers your
nose. It takes just a few minutes for you to notice the effects.
People most often describe the feeling as being relaxed, unconcerned,
happy, slightly numb, and disconnected from what's happening around
them. We can adjust the dosage of the nitrous oxide gas to fit
your needs. You can also control its effects by your breathing.
The more you breathe deeply through your nose, the more you'll
feel its effects.
There are no long-lasting effects, and you can
safely drive after a dental appointment. We won't use Nitrous
Oxide if you're pregnant, have an inner ear infection, or asthma.
Let us know if you'd like to try Nitrous Oxide
to feel more relaxed during your next dental appointment at your
clinic.
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Extractions
