Sedation Offers Comfortable Treatment

When you are undergoing treatment for an advanced case of gum disease, which could include gum grafts, or if you have missing teeth being replaced with dental implants, you need advanced treatment. To ensure you’re comfortable during these procedures, our team offers calming solutions. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about sedation dentistry.

When You Need a Calming Agent

Our team recommends sedation to help people undergoing more extensive treatment options, such as Pinhole Surgical Technique for gum grafting, or dental implant placement to address missing teeth. We also prescribe this for people receiving a bone grafting or sinus lift. The mediation helps you enter a calm and relaxed state, and you often have no memory of the procedure. But this is also helpful for those with special needs or dental anxiety, as it can ensure a positive and comfortable experience at the office.

Choosing the Best One For You

We offer three different selections, and will pick one based on a number of factors. For example, age, weight, medical history, dental anxiety, and any special needs are considered when we choose which calming agent is right for you. We take a personalized approach to treatment, which means we do the same for anesthesia and sedation too.

Three Selections

The more common option is nitrous oxide, which is helpful for patients of all ages. People wear a mask over their nose and inhale a special gas. This helps them enter a calm and relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure afterward. The sedation levels can be adjusted as needed, and the effects wear off immediately, you could even drive yourself home or return to work!

Oral conscious sedation provides a deeper state of calm, but you still remain conscious and able to respond to the dentist as needed. The medication is administered via pill or liquid form before the procedure starts, and you will have little to no memory of the procedure afterward. In some cases, the medication can be taken the night before. You will be groggy afterward, so have a friend or family member on hand to bring you home.

Administered intravenously, IV sedation is the deeper form of calming and is often recommended if you’re undergoing surgery or have severe phobia of the dentist. This is also helpful for more extensive treatment options. Your vital signs are monitored the entire time, and the effects will again take time to wear off, so have someone available to bring you home afterward.

Speak With Your Encinitas/San Diego, CA Periodontist About Our Calming Solutions

We would like to help you enjoy your treatment experience. If you would like to find out more about our approach to keeping you comfortable, then please call Dr. Kania’s laser periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.