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Sedation dentistry is used to help patients relax and minimize their anxiety while going through various dental treatments and procedures. Sedation dentistry includes the use of oral medications, general anesthesia, or intravenous sedation (IV sedation). Sedation is not for pain relief but is often used along with pain medications to provide a relaxed, pain-free experience.

Sedation dentistry is a great solution for patients who experience fear, stress, or anxiety during dental procedures such as gum surgery, tooth extractions or oral surgery, dental implants, root canals, and more.

If you have avoided dental care because of stress or anxiety, contact us today to learn more about the sedation dentistry services we offer with a consultation.

Who Benefits From Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry provides benefits to patients of all ages with various treatment options available depending on the patient’s needs. There are many reasons a person may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. These include:

  • Dental phobia
  • Previously negative dental experience
  • Fear of needles
  • Sensitive oral nerves
  • Local anesthetic resistance
  • Anxiety disorders

If you experience any of the above, talk to your dentist about your concerns, fears and the best sedation dentistry procedure for you.

With locations throughout New England and a team of award-winning doctors and specialists Gentle Dental is the right choice for sedation dentistry. We offer extended hours and appointments available on the weekends – including Sundays! Schedule an appointment at a Gentle Dental near you.

Types of Sedation Dentistry

There are two types of dental sedation, conscious sedation, and oral sedation. They both use general and local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and intravenous sedation. These fall into two main categories, mild and medium. The category you need may be determined by your dental procedure and your level of fear and anxiety.

Mild Sedation

The main goal of mild sedation is to relieve dental anxiety and reduce fear. A local anesthetic is used along with pain medication to help reduce and eliminate pain and the level of anxiety during the dental procedure. The most common form of a mild sedative is the administration of nitrous oxide. During mild IV sedation you are conscious and can breathe on your own. Procedures and treatments performed under conscious sedation include:

  • Routine dental work
  • Deep cleaning, scaling, and root planting
  • Implant placement
  • Crowns and bridges
  • Extractions
  • Cosmetic dentistry

Medium Sedation

Medium sedation is typically used for more involved and intensive dental procedures. The goal of medium sedation is a deeper state of relaxation. Often medium sedation has the potential to cause mild amnesia so that the procedure is not remembered. Medium sedation is typically administered orally and can be used for most dental procedures.

Gentle Dental dentists and staff understand the potential fear of dental procedures and the anxiety of visiting a dentist. We do not want you to fear, avoid or eliminate dental care. We want you to be comfortable and receive the oral care and support that you need. Ask us about dental sedation today and see if it is the right choice for you. Schedule an appointment for a consultation.

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If your request is a dental emergency, or you would like to call and schedule your dental appointment, contact information for our offices can be found here: Gentle Dental Locations. New patient offer not valid for emergency appointments.