What we Offer | Using Sedation in Dentistry

Using Sedation in Dentistry

The standard of treating patients using sedation was set by physicians in the U.S. approximately 40 years ago. It is nothing new for patients to be sedated for operations on knees, feet, wrists, ears, noses, or practically anything else. A lady told me the other day, "I had to go in for a MRI (a type of x-ray). I was very nervous so my doctor gave me some medicine to relax me." Patients ask dentists for sedation and the dentists do everything they can to talk them out of it. Most dentists do not want to go through the additional training and accreditation process that is necessary to sedate patients.

You wouldn't think of having an ear operation or a nose operation without sedation. But, for some reason it becomes acceptable to endure time-consuming, strenuous, noisy, and uncomfortable procedures on the most sensitive, personal part of the body (the mouth) with no sedation. Dentists attempt to work outside of the already established standard of using sedation. Hence, we as dentists treat only 50% of the population – the rest don’t receive regular dental care.

I have found that fearful patients have no problem being sedated for dental treatment. Sedation makes even long, involved dental treatment easy to tolerate. Sedation for certain types of dental care has been used for many years. If you asked a hundred people who have had their wisdom teeth removed how they had it done, most would say they were put to sleep to have them removed.

If you feel that sedation would be beneficial for you during your dental care, please call us.

Types of Sedation

There are three basic categories of sedation that we use: nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), oral sedation, and IV sedation.

• Nitrous oxide is the least effective form of sedation, but for many people it is effective enough. Nitrous oxide doesn’t have any residual effects when your appointment is over. Therefore, you can safely drive yourself to and from the office.
  
  
• Oral sedation is much more effective than nitrous oxide. It results in a significantly reduced sense of awareness during your appointment. You must have someone drive you to and from the office, and you will require supervision at home for several hours after your appointment. Oral sedation requires the longest period of time to take effect and to wear off after your appointment. It works very well for people who do not like the idea of having an IV started and on people who are difficult to start an IV on.
  
  
• IV sedation is more effective than oral sedation. IV sedation takes effect very quickly and wears off more quickly than oral sedation. Again, you must have someone drive you to and from the office, and you will require supervision at home for several hours after your appointment.

Sedation Questions and Answers

How do the sedation medications work?

The sedative medications that we use reduce your brain’s ability to feel anxiety or nervousness. At the same time, these medications have no significant effects on your heart or your ability to breath. For these reasons, these medications are very effective and, at the same time, very safe.

While I am sedated, how will you know that I am OK?

We monitor all patients that are under the effects of oral or IV sedation with computerized monitoring equipment that is designed specifically for this purpose. Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing are continuously monitored. The monitoring equipment we use automatically alerts us to any variations before a serious problem develops.

Is it OK to drink alcohol or take other drugs prior to my appointment?

No! Alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs can cause serious problems when combined with the sedative medications we use. Alcohol should be avoided for at least 24 hours prior to your sedation appointment. Please inform us of all medicines - prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal - that you are taking so that we can safely plan your sedation.

How much dental treatment can be accomplished while I am sedated?

We can easily correct dental problems that have been present for many years. This can include crowns, fillings, removal of teeth that cannot be restored, treatment for gum disease, and cosmetic dental procedures. Your appointment can be as short as an hour or two, or several hours – whatever is necessary to treat your individual dental problems. For most people, one or two appointments are all that is necessary to complete all dental care.

Do medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. affect my ability to be sedated for my dental care?

In most cases, we can complete your dental care utilizing the benefits of sedation. We will contact your physician as necessary to clarify the extent and severity of any medical conditions you may have.

Will I feel sick as a result of the sedation after my appointment?

No, that is extremely unlikely. Many of the drugs used in the hospital for very deep sedation or general anesthesia result in nausea and vomiting for several hours afterward. The medications we use to sedate you rarely cause nausea or vomiting.

What is the best time of day to schedule my sedation appointment?

We recommend that you schedule your appointment as early in the day as possible when you are going to be sedated. If your appointment is scheduled early, you will spend less time feeling hungry and thirsty. You must avoid all eating and drinking for 8 hours prior to your appointment (unless you have been given special instructions from us).

Will I be unconscious or completely asleep while I am sedated?

No. That requires a level of sedation that approaches general anesthesia. That degree of sedation is only safe in a hospital setting. Our goal is to sedate you comfortably and safely!

Will my dental insurance cover the costs of my dental care and sedation?

Most insurance plans provide coverage for only minimal levels of dental care. In our experience, dental insurance will provide very little or no coverage for dental care involving cosmetic changes, crowns, dentures, and treatment of gum disease. Most companies provide no coverage at all for the sedation itself. Even dental procedures that are covered are usually subject to severe restrictions.

Most dental insurance plans have an annual limit of $1000 - $1500, depending upon the type of policy you or your employer selected. This is the same dollar amount of coverage that was offered in the 1960’s! The insurance premiums charged by the insurance companies have increased tremendously since then, but the insurance coverage has changed very little.

Our goal is to provide you with the highest level of dental care possible, regardless of the restrictions and limitations the insurance company imposes.

Almost everyone who has been sedated in our office has the perception that they have slept through the appointment. We most commonly hear, "I remember walking in the office; the next thing I remember is waking up with my teeth fixed." Most people remember little or nothing about their treatment.