When patients have anxiety about a dental procedure, conscious sedation (Sleep Dentistry) can help ease their minds and reduce discomfort during comprehensive dental care. If you have an upcoming procedure at Lighthouse Dental Centre in Langley, you maybe wondering what sedation dentistry is, how it works and what it feels like.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses medication and local anesthesia to help you feel more relaxed and ease discomfort during an appointment at a dentist's office.
We often use this type of sedation when patients have anxiety about dental procedures including cleanings, dental fillings, root canals, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bridges, teeth whitening in-office, dental X-rays and dental extractions including wisdom teeth. Today, sedation dentistry is also known as procedural sedation and analgesia, or PSA. It also goes by other names, like conscious oral sedation, laughing gas, happy gas or happy air. For minimally invasive procedures like Botox we typically do not use sedation but is always an option.
There are three levels of sedation at a dentists office:
Minimal: You will be fully conscious, responsive and relaxed. Oral medications are used for this level of sedation.
Moderate: You will feel relaxed and sleepy. You may lose consciousness. However, you will still be responsive.
Deep: You will be mostly unresponsive and asleep for the procedure.
What is the Difference Between Oral Sedation Dentistry and General Anesthesia?
With sedation dentistry and general anesthesia, the goal is to eliminate discomfort and anxiety about medical procedures for patients. But these two types of sleep dentistry differ in many ways.
Sleep Dentistry at the Dentists Office
Used for routine procedures, such as fillings, cleaning, tissue biopsies and most general dental services at our Langley clinic
You will be mostly awake for the procedure, but you won't feel pain.
You will likely remember some of the procedure.
The sedative may be administered via pill, gas through a mask or a shot into your muscle.
It may take a little time for the sedative to kick in. However, if delivered via IV, the effect will be immediate.
The effect will wear off quickly. You may be able to take yourself home, but it's best to have someone pick you up.
IV Moderate Anesthesia - Surgeons Office or Hospital
Used for major surgeries, or if requested by a patient.
You should not have memory of the procedure, and you will be entirely unconscious.
Typically administered via an IV.
The drugs enter the bloodstream immediately, so the effect kicks in very quickly.
It can take hours for general anesthesia to wear off. Someone will need to take you home.
How Does Sleep Dentistry Work?
The process of conscious sedation will depend on the procedure. We'll explain how it works so that you know what to expect at our Langley office.
First, you'll sit down in the dental chair, and we'll use a pulse oximeter before we get started. We ask that you wear loose-fitting clothing for your procedure.
We will administer the sedatives. In most cases, this will be through an oral tablet or combinations of Lorazepam, Diazepam, Hydroxyzine or Midazolam
If taking an oral sedative, we will have to wait for it to take effect before starting the procedure. This can take 30-45 minutes or slightly longer.
Once the sedative takes effect, we will monitor your blood pressure and breathing. If your oxygen levels get too low, we may have you use a nasal canula to ensure that you're breathing consistently and that your blood pressure is at a normal level.
We will begin the procedure, which can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes in most cases. More complex sedation dental procedures can take several hours.
From routine dental procedures at our office, such as dental fillings, dental crown replacements or root canals to dental emergency treatment you have the option to request conscious sedation. With these procedures, we typically use local anesthesia. However, our dentist will be happy to fulfill patient requests for conscious sedation to make the procedure as stress-free as possible.
What Does Sleep Dentistry Feel Like?
Most of our dental care Langley patients describe sedation as feeling very relaxed or drowsy, but the effects can vary from person to person. Any fear, anxiety or stress you felt about the procedure should fade away.
You may also feel:
Tingling in your legs, arms, hands and feet.
A heavy sensation in your limbs.
That your reflexes are delayed.
Time moves more slowly.
A bit of euphoria. Our patients sometimes smile or laugh for no obvious reason.
What are the Side Effects of Sleep Dentistry?
The side effects of conscious sedation can last for a few hours and may include:
A sleepy feeling
Low blood pressure
A feeling of heaviness in your limbs
Delayed reflexes
Headache
Nausea
Although these effects can last for a few hours, most of our Langley dental patients recover from conscious sedation relatively quickly.
What Happens After the Procedure Depends On
The type of sedation dentistry
The type of procedure
The length of time you are sedated
Which drugs were used
With some procedures, sedation dentistry is a standard part of the procedure. In this case, the costs may be covered by insurance. However, if it isn't required, it may not be covered by your dental plan.If you request or elect conscious sedation, you may be responsible for all or some of the costs. You can expect to spend the following in Langley:
Light sedation: From $75-$150, depending on which drugs are used, the amount needed and your location.
IV sedation: $200-$900 or more.
Conscious Sedation is a Simple Way to Ease Dental Anxiety at the Dentist
If you have anxiety about a dental procedure sedation dentistry may be a good option for you. Our Langley staff will be happy to discuss your options and help you find the best solution to ease your anxiety and make sure that you're comfortable during the procedure.
The side effects are minimal and there are rarely any complications. If you're worried about a procedure, having the option to use sleep dentistry may make it easier to go to your Langley dentist appointments.
