Sedation Options
Putting you At Ease
We want you to feel at ease every step of your visit — as you wait for your name to be called and as you receive your treatment.
We understand that dental visits can evoke anxiety in many people. Our goal is for you to leave our office with a new, positive, vision of what it means to visit the dentist. From the chair you’ll lounge on during treatment, to the surroundings you’ll view during your exam, to the background music you’ll hear, we’ve put thought into how each detail will affect your comfort. We enjoy surprising you with unexpected pampering perks like a comforting neck pillow or a heated face towel.
When your visit calls for sedation, Dr. Staten offers two options which are appropriate for different situations.
Nitrous Oxide
For more minor dental procedures, such as having a cavity filled, this safe, side effect-free option allows a patient to stay awake during the procedure, yet calms anxieties. A patient wears a scented mask over his mouth and nose, and breathes in a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) during treatment. Once the mask is removed, the sedation effect dissipates quickly.
Oral Conscious Sedation
For more involved treatment procedures such as tooth restorations or root canals, or for patients who suffer from more acute dental anxiety or fear, a stronger sedation option is generally warranted. During oral conscious sedation, you take a dose of anti-anxiety medication about an hour before your appointment. By the time you enter the dental operatory, you will feel deeply relaxed and impassive about the procedure at hand. You will continue to feel the effects of oral conscious sedation after your visit, so you will need to arrange for reliable transportation home.
Oral conscious sedation provides a safe, effective sedation option for a wide range of needs.
