General Anesthesia & Sedation Dentistry
Do you feel anxious when you think about your upcoming dental appointment? Have you been struggling with dental fear and avoid the dentist even when in pain? Many people encounter this phobia, which is common nowadays. At Serenity Dental Care we have the solution, if you reside in Portland, Oregon or the metropolitan area the answer to all your dental phobia related problems is sedation dentistry.
What Is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry can be described as the use of medication to help patients relax and stress-free during a dental procedure. During the process, the patients are usually awake except for those who are under general anesthesia as seen at the Serenity Dental Care facility. There are some levels of sedation and the type of sedation is selected by the professionals at Serenity Dental Care according to the type of procedure and requirement of the specific patient. The levels of sedation are as follow:
- When you are awake but relaxed, this is called minimal sedation.
- When you don’t remember much about the procedure and you slur your words during the procedure, it is called moderate sedation.
- The condition when you are on the edge of consciousness and still can be awakened is known as deep sedation.
- In general anesthesia, you are completely unconscious or asleep.
At Serenity Dental Care, our expert Dental Professionals (Dr. Thomas E. Clark, DMD and Dr. Terrence Clark, DMD FAGD) and Dental Anesthesiologist (Dr. Ryan Allred, DMD) take your complete history and use general anesthesia to carry out your treatment in a controlled, comfortable, and safe environment.
What is a Dental Anesthesiologist?
How Many Types of Sedation Are Used in Dentistry?
There are many types of sedation that are used in dentistry such as:
- Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas which is considered minimal sedation. A mask is all that is needed to supply the patient with a gaseous mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. If you had a bad past dental experience or if you are simply nervous about your treatment, this gas will help you stay relaxed during the dental procedure. The dental experts at Serenity Dental Care can control the amount of sedation you receive, which can wear off quickly as soon as the treatment is completed.
- Oral sedation ranges from minimal to moderate, when you feel slightly anxious the Dentist or Dental Anesthesiologist will provide you with a pill which is usually taken about an hour before the procedure.
- IV moderate sedation. This drug in sedation dentistry is given to the patients through a vein, which is why this method is quicker.
- Deep sedation and general anesthesia. Are you going to have a wisdom tooth extraction but are afraid of the procedure? At Serenity Dental Care, our general anesthesia and sedation dentistry will help alleviate your dental anxiety as you sleep through your appointment. You will get general anesthesia that will make you unconscious during the procedure.
Remember, regardless of which type of sedation you receive; you will need local anesthesia at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth to relieve pain during the procedure.
Your smile and comfort are important to us! If you have the following problems, we can help you with Sedation dentistry:
- Anxiety about dental visits
- History of a traumatic dental experience
- A strong gag reflex
- TMJ problems
- A phobia of needles
- Trouble with multiple dental visits
- Intolerance for lengthy appointments
- A difficulty getting numb
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Serenity Dental Care provides the safest sedation experience with the presence of a Dental Anesthesiologist while our Doctors take care of your oral health. Sleep during your entire appointment with the satisfaction that your health and well-being are our highest priority. If you are residing in Portland, Oregon, or the metropolitan area schedule a consultation with us for a serene dental experience.
