Visiting the dentist can sometimes be a stressful experience. Dental sedation is a valuable complement to our general dental care services. Whether you’re anxious about a procedure or have a fear of dental visits, our goal is to make your experience as comfortable and relaxed as possible. That’s why we offer oral conscious sedation to help you feel at ease during your appointment.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a way to help patients feel calm and relaxed during dental visits using safe medication. It’s a great option for those who feel nervous about going to the dentist, have very sensitive teeth, or are having a long procedure.
It’s normal and very common to feel anxious about dental visits. At Hermitage Dental Clinic in Edmonton, we completely understand. Our main goal is to make you feel comfortable and supported. We want you to get the dental care you need in a calm and stress-free environment.
How Oral Conscious Sedation Works
This type of sedation involves taking a prescribed pill before your appointment. The medicine helps you feel deeply relaxed and comfortable throughout your treatment. You’ll still be awake and able to communicate with the dentist, but you’ll feel much more at ease.
Because the medication can make you drowsy, you’ll need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment. Oral sedation is an excellent way to help you get through your dental care feeling calm and worry-free.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Appointment
If we decide that oral conscious sedation is right for you, here’s what will happen:
- Before Your Appointment: You’ll get a prescription for a pill to take about an hour before your visit. You must have a responsible adult drive you to the office and back home.
- When You Arrive: You’ll be feeling very relaxed. We’ll get you comfortable in the dental chair, and the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb your teeth completely. You shouldn’t feel any pain.
- During the Procedure: You’ll be in a calm, dream-like state. You can still breathe on your own and respond to the dentist, but you likely won’t remember much about the procedure afterward. We’ll monitor your vital signs, like your heart rate and blood pressure, the entire time to ensure your safety.
- After Your Appointment: Your driver will take you home. You’ll need to rest for the remainder of the day. The drowsy feeling will wear off after a few hours. Drink plenty of water and avoid driving, operating machinery, or making important decisions for the next 24 hours.
Your Safety is Our Top Priority
Sedation dentistry is very safe when performed by a trained dental team. Our dentists have the experience and equipment necessary to monitor you throughout your entire procedure. We’ll review your health history thoroughly to make sure the medication is safe for you.
Why Choose Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry benefits many patients and can enhance your dental experience. If you have dental anxiety or fear, sedation can help you feel more relaxed and less stressed during your appointment. It also allows our team to perform procedures more efficiently. You’ll be more comfortable and less likely to move or tense up.
For longer or more complex procedures, sedation can help you stay calm and still. This makes the process smoother and more efficient. This can also lead to a quicker recovery and less discomfort after your treatment.
Dental sedation offers these benefits to patients:
- Pain-free dentistry
- Lowered discomfort
- Quick recovery time
- Anterograde amnesia (patients don’t remember treatment)
- Efficient treatment
Sedation can benefit patients that:
- Have special needs
- Have a strong gag reflex that makes treatment difficult
- Feel very nervous or scared at the dentist’s office
- Need a lot of dental work completed in one long appointment
- Have trouble sitting still or getting numb from local anesthetic
- Have anxiety, or memories of bad past dental experiences
Dental sedation is a helpful tool that allows us to perform important dental care for patients of every age. We monitor patients constantly under sedation to ensure that they feel comfortable and relaxed.
Experience Comfortable Dental Care
At Hermitage Dental Clinic, we provide compassionate and comfortable care for all our patients. Sedation dentistry is just one of the ways we strive to make your dental visits as pleasant and stress-free as possible. If you’re feeling anxious about an upcoming appointment or need help managing discomfort during treatment, contact us today.
Call our dental clinic at 587-806-4168 or request an appointment online. Let us help you experience a relaxed and comfortable dental visit with the expert care and attention you deserve.