Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry offers anxiety-free dental procedures as the patient is in a deeply relaxed state, though fully responsive. It means something even more important: a comfortable experience - often with no recollection of the time passed. We often hear from patients who express their gratitude and delight in their first ever visit to the dentist without fear.

All of the amazing advances in dentistry can’t do a thing for you if you don’t go to the dentist. Dr. Chaffin realizes that there are a lot of legitimate reasons why many people stay away from the dentist. It’s been estimated that almost half of the population has some kind of dental fear, from people who feel a little uncomfortable, to those who are so terrified they can’t set foot in a dental office. Whether it’s fear or something else that’s keeping you away, today’s dentistry gives Dr. Chaffin many options for making you comfortable throughout your appointment. Anesthesia can eliminate pain for most people, but sometimes that’s not enough. Sedation dentistry uses medications to relax patients, which makes for a totally comfortable dental experience.

Levels of Sedation

Dr. Chaffin only wants to sedate you enough to make you relaxed, and let you have a comfortable experience. He has a number of conscious sedation techniques that deliver excellent results for the vast majority of dental patients.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide sedation is a very effective way for Dr. Chaffin to help you stay relaxed and comfortable during a dental procedure. It is a very light form of sedation, which works fast and wears off quickly.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is a wonderful option for patients as it allows you to be comfortably sedated through an entire dental visit using just a small pill.

 

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide Sedation is a very effective way for Dr. Chaffin to help you stay relaxed and comfortable during a dental procedure. It is a very light form of sedation, which works fast and wears off quickly.

What is Nitrous Oxide Sedation?

Nitrous oxide, often called “laughing gas” is a colorless gas that Dr. Chaffin can give you to help you relax. It is very safe when professionally administered, and it works extremely well to reduce the anxieties in many dental patients. Approximately one-third of all dentists use nitrous oxide in their offices. It is often used to sedate a patient for a short period of time, or in conjunction with another sedation medication.

Is Nitrous Oxide Sedation for me?

Dr. Chaffin has been trained exactly when and how to administer nitrous oxide, so feel free to ask if it is right for your situation. He wants to sedate you only as much as necessary, but there are other methods of conscious sedation available if nitrous oxide is not enough for you to feel comfortable. In general, it delivers a very good, light sedation for patients who have some minor discomfort with dental visits, especially during some more invasive procedures. Very often it is used for a short period of time when Dr. Chaffin is drilling or pulling a tooth and thinks sedation would make things less stressful for you. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with other sedatives to keep patients very relaxed and totally comfortable.

What can I expect from Nitrous Oxide Sedation?

Dr. Chaffin will put a mask on your face or a small tube called a cannula under your nostrils to give you a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. It usually takes effect very quickly, and lasts for as long as it is kept on. During the procedure you will feel extremely relaxed, with a sensation that has been described as “dreamy”, but you will remain awake. Once the nitrous oxide is off, patients usually feel normal again very quickly, and can almost always drive themselves home after the appointment.

Is Nitrous Oxide Sedation safe?

Yes, it is extremely safe when given by a medical professional like Dr. Chaffin. Nitrous oxide is one of the safest medications available. While most people have no negative reaction to relatively short periods of time on nitrous oxide, it does make a small percentage of people feel nauseated. Dr. Chaffin has been trained how to best deliver nitrous oxide, and will have you under close supervision for the duration of the procedure.

 

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is a wonderful option for patients who need more than just nitrous oxide, but don’t need or want IV Sedation or general anesthesia. It allows many people to be comfortably sedated through an entire dental visit using just a small pill.

What is Oral Sedation?

Oral sedation is a method of conscious sedation where the dentist uses pills to sedate a patient. Most healthy adults are good candidates for oral sedation. For some, comfortable dentistry is as simple as taking one small pill.

What is Conscious Sedation?

Conscious sedation is modern dentistry that lets even the most high fear patient have a relaxing and comfortable dental visit. Since the patient is comfortable, Dr. Chaffin is able to accomplish the work of several appointments in just one. There are a number of conscious sedation techniques, but they all have certain things in common. While the goal of general anesthesia is for the patient to sleep, in dentistry it is much more common to use conscious sedation, where the patient is sedated and comfortable, yet still awake. When Dr. Chaffin uses conscious sedation, you don’t really fall asleep, even though sometimes it feels like you did. That’s because sedation feels so relaxing and peaceful that the patient doesn’t even notice the passing of time. Many of the medications used in conscious sedation have an amnesiac effect as well, leaving patients with little or no memory of their dental appointment, and further adding to the feeling that the patient was asleep.

Is Oral Sedation for me?

Oral sedation is wonderful and incredibly effective for most healthy adults. For many, it is the answer they have been looking for all their life. Discuss sedation with Dr. Chaffin if any of the following sounds like you

- You are uncomfortable in the dentist's office

- You are too scared to even call the dentist and make an appointment

- You can’t stand the smell and sounds of the dentist's office

- You are delaying treatment you know you need

- You are in pain when you eat, but too anxious about the dentist to take care of it

- You are unable to find a dentist that you feel you can trust

- You have trouble getting numb - the anesthetic doesn’t seem to work on you

- You are afraid to smile

- You are concerned about how many dental appointments you know you’ll need

- You are looking for a way to have the work of several appointments done in just one or two

- You remember bad experiences with a dentist in your past

- You need your wisdom teeth removed

- You have sensitive teeth

- You have a strong gag reflex, especially when the dentist is working in your mouth

- You have trouble with jaw soreness when you have to keep your mouth open

- You have back or neck pain when you sit in a dental chair

- You are afraid of needles

 

What can I expect from Oral Sedation?

There are many different medications and sedation techniques, so it is best to get specifics from Dr. Chaffin. Generally, you will be given a prescription for a pill to take before your appointment. Since this is sedative medication, you will need a companion to drive you to the appointment. Once you arrive, Dr. Chaffin will begin monitoring your vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure, to make sure that you stay completely safe through the procedure. He will then assess your level of sedation, and ask how you feel. In some circumstances, Dr. Chaffin may use more medication, but often this is unnecessary. The dentistry will all be performed while you are relaxed and totally comfortable. When it is safe for you to travel, your companion will take you home, and then you will rest comfortably for the rest of the day.

Is Oral Sedation safe?

While all methods of sedation are very safe, the history of oral sedation has been especially safe as well as very effective. Dr. Chaffin uses very common medications that are extremely safe and widely prescribed. Your vital signs will be constantly monitored from the moment you arrive at the office through the appointment, and until Dr. Chaffin is certain you are ready to leave. In fact, he and his whole dental team are highly trained in safety and emergency procedures, making the dentist office one of the safest places you can be!