At Shadow Valley Dental Group, we are committed to providing our patients with a gentle, pain-free dental experience. As part of our commitment, we offer several sedation options to help in the reduction of fear and anxiety. Of course, all sedation cases include gentle, painless local anesthetic and, if desired, stereo headphones to block the noise of the procedure being performed.
The administration of nitrous oxide gas is a very good source of relaxation when receiving dental treatment. The gas is extremely safe and will begin to have an effect within five minutes of administration. The level of the gas can be raised or lowered to accomodate a patient's individual needs. Once the gas is turned off, the patient will receive 100% oxygen for five minutes to clear the effects of the nitrous oxide from the patient's system. The patient can drive him or herself home immediately afterward with no restrictions.
Orally administered sedative drugs such as Valium have an excellent effect of reducing fear and anxiety and providing good relaxation. The drug may be prescribed before the appointment, or given in our office. The usual protocol is to take the prescribed amount one hour prior to treatment. A responsible person may be required to drive the patient to and from the appointment, due to the drug's sedative effects, which may linger for several hours after the prodecure is done.
IV sedation is the highest level of sedation offered at our office. It is extremely effective at reducing fear and anxiety, and is ideal for patients whose procedures may be more time-consuming or intensive, such as oral surgery. The sedation involves the doctor starting an IV line in a vein, and administering sedative drugs, which take effect within a short period of time. This usually produces a state of light sleep. During the procedure, several monitors assess the patient's vital signs. Afterwards, the patient will be drowsy for several hours, so a responsible driver for transport to and from the appointment is needed. If you are a candidate for IV sedation, the doctor will assess your medical history, as well as any medications you may be currently taking, to ensure that you are an ideal candidate for this procedure. Patients scheduled for IV sedation are asked not to eat or drink for four hours prior to the appointment, and to wear short-sleeved shirts to make it easier to place monitors on the patient's arms.
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