If you feel nervous about visiting the dentist, the team at Driftwood Dental in Courtenay can help. We offer a variety of sedation options for anxious patients.
How Does Dental Sedation Help?
Dental sedation can help patients who experience extreme anxiety when visiting the dentist. It accomplishes this by helping them relax during whatever procedures they need.
The dental sedation we use can provide patients with a general sense of calm and well-being, allowing them to relax enough to undergo dental treatment.
At Driftwood Dental there are four main types of dental sedation we utilize to help Courtenay patients:
IV Sedation
At Driftwood Dental our dentists use a mild to moderate form of IV sedation that does not put the patient to sleep. Instead, it leaves patients in a dreamlike state of relaxation. It can also sometimes have an amnesiac effect, leaving some people with little to no memory of their dental treatment. IV sedation is administered intravenously.
IV sedation may not be right for everyone, as the guidelines regarding its administration are somewhat stricter than those of other types of sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can be used alone or together with an oral sedative. It is an inhaled gas that helps patients feel calm and relaxed during their dental procedures.
Nitrous oxide gas is clear and odourless, and when mixed with oxygen, provides patients with peaceful, almost euphoric sensations. It has no lasting effects, so patients can drive home after their appointment if they do not use it with an oral sedative.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation can be achieved with a variety of medications. Our Courtenay dentists can recommend the most appropriate oral conscious sedation option for your child, and will always be glad to answer any questions you may have about it.
While oral conscious sedation doesn't usually make a patient unconscious, it can make them drowsy enough to sleep during the procedure. Many patients do not have any memory of their dental procedure after the effect of the sedation wears off.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is used to make a patient unconscious. Anesthesia is usually recommended for patients with limited comprehension, serious behavioural challenges and/or high pain sensitivity.
Is Sedation Safe?
When administered by a suitable professional, sedation is considered very safe. Nitrous oxide is even recommended for use in young children (this is determined on a case-by-case basis for children with especially high levels of dental anxiety).
Feeling Anxious? Talk To Us.
At Driftwood Dental, you can speak with our team about any anxieties or worries before undergoing dental treatment. We understand how you feel, so never hesitate to address your feelings of anxiety or nervousness with our team. We’ll discuss your needs with you and help you determine if dental sedation is the right choice.