Sedation Dentistry
At Mount Vernon Smile Design we use advanced sedation dentistry for a wide variety of in-house services. Our goal is to ensure you are comfortable, calm, and relaxed through any dental treatment or dental procedure.
The Purpose of Dental Sedation
Dental sedation refers to medicine designed to reduce physical pain associated with treatment or to reduce anxiety and help you feel more relaxed while dental work is being completed. This makes the experience more pleasant and ensures our staff can perform their duties more effectively. We offer dental sedation in general anesthesia, laughing gas, and oral conscious sedation. We also practice pediatric sedation dentistry.
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What is laughing gas and what does it do?
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is commonly used as a local sedation method. It’s colorless and odorless and its usefulness stems from its ability to quickly work and safely reverse its effects. Laughing gas is the most minimal form of sedation and is easily administered through a small mask that dispenses a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen, leaving you feeling relaxed. It is a widely considered safe dental sedation method.
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What should I expect with oral conscious sedation?
Depending on the dosage, oral sedation is a minimal to moderate form of sedation. You will be administered a pill to take orally about an hour before your treatment. This will leave you feeling drowsy and relaxed, but will not put you to sleep.
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What types of anesthesia are used for dental work?
The most common types of anesthesia used are local and general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is a numbing medication injected directly into the area to be treated—usually the gums around an affected tooth. In contrast, general anesthesia produces a more profound experience that usually leaves no memory of the actual procedure. It’s typically used for more intensive procedures like tooth extraction, dental implants, or other surgical procedures and the patient is unconscious during the process.
More Questions?
If you have any questions about sedation dentistry or would like to request an appointment with Mount Vernon Smile Design, contact us using the links below.