Anxiety-Free Visits

Dentistry does not need to be painful

IV Sedation and Oral Sedation are the medical answers for those patients who suffer with the problem of stress and anxiety before and during dental visits.

IV Sedation* is literally as it sounds. The patient is administered anti-anxiety drugs through an IV line. Generally, most patients stay awake during the procedure and will be able to understand and respond to requests from dental staff. However, the patient most likely will not remember much of what went on during the procedure as the sedation induces a state of deep relaxation. The drugs used for IV Sedation can produce a partial or full memory loss for the period of time between when the drug first takes effect until it wears off. Time will have seemed to have passed very quickly with no clear recollection of the procedure.

Oral Sedatives* provide no pain relieving qualities. However, in many cases they can help the patient have a better experience at the dentist. The patient takes a sedative the evening before to calm them, then a muscle relaxer an hour before the dental appointment.

Nitrous Oxide, also known as Nitrous or laughing gas, is a lighter form of sedation. A patient remains relaxed during the appointment, however is able to continue their day as planned. There are no lasting after affects and patients do not need a driver to or from the appointment.

* Patients should NOT operate motor vehicles or machinery for 24 hours after receiving IV or oral sedation. Patients are responsible for arranging transportation to and from the office.