We Offer Full Sedation with a Caring Team That Includes an Anesthesiologist and Nursing Staff
Sleep dentistry is ideal for patients who have:
- Sensitive Teeth
- Complex Dental Problems
- Fear of Needles
- Overactive Gag Reflex
- Difficulty Getting Numb
- High Fear or Anxiety
- Wisdom Teeth/Extractions
- Children Dentistry
How Safe is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation and general anesthesia are used safely and effectively for thousands of dental procedures every year. Our team will take every precaution necessary to ensure you have a safe and comfortable appointment.
Prior to your appointment, we will review your medical history with you to make sure that you are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, and that the sedation or anaesthetic we use will not interfere with any medication you are currently taking.
In general, dental sedation and anesthesia is safe for most patients. We want to help put your concerns to rest, so if you have any questions about the safety of sedation dentistry, please feel free to get in touch.
Preparation for General Anaesthetic
The preparation for your dental anesthesia appointment is an important part of the process. Read on to learn what to expect leading up to a sleep dentistry procedure, and how to prepare for general anesthesia.
The Consultation Appointment
During the consultation appointment, we will start by making sure that all your medical records, including radiographs (x-rays) are up to date. We will ask you about any changes in your health, medications, or lifestyle habits that may have an impact on your upcoming procedure.
We will discuss the procedure to be performed, and determine what type of sedation or general anesthesia is most appropriate for you. Your dentist will explain the process and the medication to you (as well as potential side effects), give you instructions for preparation, and answer your questions.
In the Days Before Your Appointment
Pre-appointment instructions will vary depending on the type of anesthesia or sedation medication to be administered. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions well in advance.
Pre-appointment instructions may include the following:
- Food and drink restrictions: what, and how long before your appointment you may eat and drink.
- Clothing and accessory guidelines: typically, it is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Avoid all jewelry, artificial nails, watches or other accessories.
- Hair guidelines: come to your appointment with dry hair, with no accessories in it.
- Medication guidelines: in most cases, you should continue taking all medications as prescribed, unless otherwise advised. How to do this in combination with drink and food restrictions will be outlined as well.
Day of appointment instructions: information on what will happen when you arrive at our office for your procedure.
On the Day of Your Appointment
You will need to be escorted to and from your sedation of sleep dentistry appointment by a trusted friend or family member, as it often takes some time for the sedatives or anesthesia to wear off. This means you shouldn’t drive, and you will need someone to keep an eye on you.
When you and your escort arrive for the appointment, you will be seated in the treatment room and made as comfortable as possible.
Depending on the type of sedation, you may or may not be unconscious during your procedure. We will carefully and continuously monitor your blood pressure, pulse and blood oxygen levels during the procedure; your safety is our first concern.
After the Appointment
After your procedure is complete, you will be taken to the recovery room. The anesthesiologist will determine when you are ready to be discharged after the appointment. The wait is typically 30 – 45 minutes, but can vary significantly.
You will need an escort to take you home, as you won’t be able to drive after your appointment. It can take 3 – 4 hours for the full effects of the medication to wear off.
Please go straight home after your appointment! Take the rest of the day off of work or school so that you can recover safely and comfortably. It may be a good idea to plan ahead and have movies, reading material or other low-effort entertainment options.
Nervous about visiting the dentist? We can help.
Our dentists can take the stress out of your next appointment with a range of sleep and sedation dentistry options.
Read our most commonly asked questions about anesthesia and sleep dentistry.
‘Sleep dentistry’ refers to dentistry under anesthesia, during which the patient is completely unconscious. The term is also commonly used to describe other types of sedation dentistry, although most of the time patients are at least semi-conscious for these.
Sleep dentistry is ideal for patients who feel fearful or anxious about undergoing dental procedures. It allows these patients to receive the dental treatment they need without the stress and discomfort they would otherwise experience.
Sleep dentistry can also be extremely helpful for patients with special needs, be they physical, mental or psychological, as it allows them to safely and comfortable undergo necessary dental care that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.
Almost anyone can undergo some form of sleep or sedation dentistry. To find out if you are a candidate, and whether sedation or anesthesia is the right choice for you
The term anesthesia refers to the administration of medications, either via injection or inhalation, that block the feeling of pain and other sensations, and produce a deep state of unconsciousness that eliminates all sensations. This allows medical and surgical procedures to be undertaken without causing undue distress or discomfort.
Sedation is administered and monitored by a registered nurse and overseen by our anesthesiologists. Sedation can induce a mellow feeling of well-being, a light sleep or semi conscious state; This means that while the patient is asleep or sedated, she can still be stimulated by touch, light, or sound. Anesthesia is administered by a certified anesthesiologist. It is considered to be a deep or full sleep, meaning the patient is fully unconscious. This allows the dentist to perform longer, more invasive procedures without the patient being aware of the proceedings.
