Frequently Asked Questions About Sedation

2. What is Oral Sedation?
This type of sedation induces an altered state of consciousness that minimizes pain and discomfort through the use of sedatives. Patients who receive oral sedation remember little if anything about their time in our office. The medication will help you rest. Those anxieties, expectations of pain and fears that kept patients away from the dentist are managed comfortably for our patients with Oral Sedation.

3. Who Can Administer Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation is extremely safe when administered by qualified providers. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), anesthesiologists, other physicians, dentists, and oral surgeons are qualified providers of oral sedation. Specifically trained Registered Nurses may assist in the administration of oral sedation.

4. Who Should Monitor Oral Sedation?
Your dentist or qualified assistant monitor patient heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, oxygen level and alertness throughout and after the procedure.

5. What are the Side Effects of Oral Sedation?
A brief period of amnesia after the procedure may follow the administration of oral sedation. Occasional side effects may include headache, nausea, hangover/jet lag feeling, or limited memory of the appointment.

6. What Should Patients Expect Immediately Following the Surgical or Diagnostic Procedure?
A qualified provider monitors the patient immediately following the procedure. Written post-operative care instructions will be given to the patient to take home or you can login to the post-operative section to access instructions these instructions online.

Patients should not drive a vehicle, operate dangerous equipment or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours after receiving Sedation Dental Care. A follow-up phone call is made by the healthcare provider to check on the patient's condition and answer any remaining questions.

Oral sedation allows patients to recover quickly and resume normal daily activities in a short period of time.

7. What is dental phobia and why do so many people hate the dentist?
Dental phobia is a severe fear of the dentist that over time causes loss of teeth because of the patient's inability to go to the dentist and receive regular care. The heart of the matter is that dental phobia can rob patients of their self esteem as they become embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth and withdraw from friends, coworkers and loved ones.

Why do people hate and fear the dentist? Fear of the dentist is most commonly something that patients learn from traumatic personal dental experiences. If these experiences occur as a child and are accompanied by a real sense of panic, the resulting reaction to the dentist may become deep seated, visceral and life-long. Such patients don't feel safe in the dental chair. Patients recall of their traumatic childhood experiences often includes being held down against their will, being yelled at, pain and terror. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that people, who suffer abuse as children, may have life-long alterations in their response to stress. If a patient suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, the dental office may be just one of many situations where such patients feel unsafe. Patients who suffer from panic attacks associated with dental care will do anything not to have that awful feeling again. Sedation, which can block the panic response, can be particularly helpful for dental patients with anxiety attacks.

Other patients may simply have difficulty getting numb after the dentist gives them an injection. If the patient is extremely anxious the patient may be sensitive to the slightest sensation because of the emotional component of their pain. Many patients may not be particularly anxious but still may feel pain during dental care because of anatomical reasons, the presence of infection or hypersensitivity of the tooth. Local anesthetics (AKA Novacaine, Novocain or Novocaine), used by dentists to numb the tooth or jaw may rarely cause patients to become excitable or anxious in large doses, especially in combination with epinephrine, a common additive. Newly developed injection techniques may help in these situations.

Some patients suffer from a severe fear of needles, also known as needle phobia. As a result people have trouble going to the dentist and medical doctor. A wide variety of techniques to help at the dentist are available, such as anesthetic pads or gels administered without piercing the skin. Patients can also be sedated with an elixir or pill before any injection.

8. What can be done to help people who avoid the dentist because of fear of pain or embarrassment?
If you have a severe fear of the dentist, the most important thing is to recognize that there are people ready to help you. Take the time to find the right person. Take the time to communicate your feelings and concerns to your dentist. Make sure the treatment plan that you and your dentist have chosen reflects your cosmetic and long term oral health goals. Choose a quality office that is dedicated to a high level of care and patient satisfaction. Make sure the dentist you've chosen has the tools to care for you comfortably and has the patience and experience to guide you through the complete treatment plan.