Draper Sedation Dentist

Do you have fear of the dentist? About a third of patients have dental anxiety, and for half of those, that dental anxiety is severe. Dr. Oksana Bailey understands and wants to make dental care a comfortable experience for you by providing a couple of levels of sedation. We can provide either a mild relaxant or oral conscious sedation, which is designed to make it so you don’t remember your dental appointment.

Our Sedation Options

Nitrous Oxide

For mildly anxious patients, we offer nitrous oxide. It helps promote a feeling of relaxation during treatment. This is important because anxiety can augment the experience of pain and also interfere with the efficacy of numbing agents (like novocain). Nitrous oxide is breathed in through a mask placed over the mouth and nose. The effects begin to wear off as soon as the mask is removed, so driving home is perfectly fine after treatment with nitrous oxide.

Oral Conscious Sedation

We know that our most anxious patients will want to experience the feeling of being “knocked out” during treatment and will not wish to remember the appointment afterward. For these patients, we provide an oral sedative medication that induces a completely carefree state. Though remaining conscious, patients under oral sedation typically feel as though they’ve slept through the entire visit and do not remember it later.

Oral conscious sedation is also helpful for patients who may not have a high level of anxiety but need extensive dental work. Sedation allows you to have an extended appointment of several hours in length, so that a large amount of dental care can be accomplished.

What to Expect During Sedation Dentistry

Before prescribing an oral sedative, Dr. Oksana Bailey will review your medical and prescription history to make sure the medication is appropriate for you. If so, you will be prescribed a pill to take 30-60 minutes before your appointment time. This will give the medicine time to take effect so that you are in a state of deep relaxation before treatment begins. Dr. Bailey will be monitoring your vital signs throughout your visit.

The effects of oral sedation last from 2-8 hours. This means that for the duration of your visit, you will remain blissfully calm and comfortable. And even after it is over, you may continue to feel this way for several hours. For this reason, it is not safe to drive yourself home while under conscious sedation.

Will I Be Asleep During Conscious Sedation?

The oral medication we prescribe induces a state known as conscious sedation that is distinct from the unconscious state induced by general anesthesia. Under conscious sedation, you remain fully able to respond with reflexes functioning as normal, even as you are deeply relaxed. Afterward, you may be convinced that you were sleeping the whole time, and you likely won’t remember the appointment at all.

Your Peaceful Path to a Healthy Smile

If you’d like to learn more about how sedation can help you achieve your smile goals, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation by calling our office. Or request an appointment online, and we’ll contact you to set one up.