Take the Fear Out of Going to the Dentist
It’s normal to feel a bit apprehensive about going to the dentist. The caring staff at Dakota Dental helps put you stay relaxed while providing quality dental procedures that support your well-being.
Whether you need extensive dental work or a cavity filling, Dakota Dental can ease those worries. Once you experience sedation dentistry, we bet you’ll never put off a dental visit again.
What is Dental Sedation?
Dental sedation allows your dental care team to provide various treatments safely and comfortably, especially if you experience anxiety when visiting your family clinic.
Benefits of sedation dentistry include:
- No memory of the procedure
- No sense of smell or sound
- No sense of time while sedated
- No fear, anxiety, or pain during the procedure
If you have any of the following concerns, sedation dentistry may be the answer for you
Would I Benefit from Dental Sedation?
This answer is different for everyone, but you might want to consider dental sedation if you (or a loved one) has:
- Fear of needles and shots.
- Extreme tooth sensitivity.
- Negative past dental experiences.
- Sensitive gag reflex.
- Dental anxiety.
- A significant procedure coming up.
- Difficulty controlling movements.
- Low pain threshold or
- If you’ve put off going to the dentist for a long time.
Sedation allows dentists to work faster and more thoroughly, so you can visit us less. That’s a bonus if you have significant dental fear.
Read more reviews from our patients.
Three Types of Dental Sedation
We offer three main types of sedation dentistry at Dakota Dental:
Nitrous Oxide (or Laughing Gas): This approach helps patients relax during a dental procedure while remaining conscious. A combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen is inhaled through a small mask. It’s usually odorless, although it can smell slightly sweet. This sedation type wears off fast, so you may be able to drive yourself home after your appointment.
Oral Sedation: Your dentist will prescribe specific pills to be taken at certain times before your appointment. You’ll stay awake during your procedure but be more relaxed.
IV Sedation Dentistry: Intravenous, or IV, sedatives can put you into various stages of consciousness. There are two main types of IV Sedation used in dental clinics:
- Moderate conscious sedation. Here you remain conscious but unaware of your surroundings.
- General anesthesia. General anesthesia for dentistry is rare but can be helpful for patients who need significant oral surgery or are resistant to other sedation. General anesthesia takes time to wear off, so you must plan a ride home from your dentist appointment.
Before your appointment, we’ll discuss your needs, health history, and preferences before settling on the right sedation approach.
Is it OK to get sedated at the dentist?
Yes! We take all the proper precautions to keep you safe during your appointment. If you need a ride after your procedure, we’ll let you know beforehand so you can plan accordingly.
At Dakota Dental, we care deeply about our patients and want them to enjoy years of healthy, clean, and strong teeth.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Before we create a sedation plan, we’ll conduct an in-depth health history, including any medications you take or conditions, including pregnancy. Then, we’ll provide clear and exact guidelines so you can know exactly what to expect, including any food or drink you need to avoid before or after your appointment.
Once you are settled in, we’ll administer the agreed-upon sedation and a local anesthetic to ensure the area we’re working on is numb. Depending on the type of dental sedation drugs we use, we may recommend having a family member or friend drive you home after your appointment. We want you to get home safely because certain sedation drugs can take a while to wear off.
Depending on the appointment type (and anxiety level), we’ll work together to find the right plan for you or your loved one.