Learn About Sedation Dentistry in Olathe, KS

Sedation dentistry allows patients to feel calm and relaxed during dentist appointments, even if the dentist performs extensive dental work. There are a few types of dental sedation, some of which are more common than others. You have probably heard of laughing gas, a form of mild sedation. If you require a deeper level of sedation, the staff at Serenity Dental may recommend IV sedation. Keep reading to learn more about sedation dentistry and how we use it.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Depending on the dosage administered, oral or IV sedation will make you feel relaxed, drowsy, and unaware of what is happening around you. It may have an amnesic effect, in which case you won’t remember the dental procedure. However, it does not put you completely to sleep. Instead, you go into a state of semi-consciousness. During IV sedation, you might fall asleep depending on the dose administered. If that happens, it is easy to wake you up after the treatment.

How Does Sedation Help with Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety occurs when someone feels afraid or nervous about going to the dentist or having their teeth treated. This type of anxiety causes many people to cancel their dental appointments and not receive the dental care they need for a healthy smile. 

Sedation dentistry counteracts dental anxiety by calming patients and helping them get through their dental appointments. If you are sedated, the dentist may be able to perform more dental procedures than he usually would attempt in one appointment. That means you could have fewer appointments if you need extensive treatment.

Types of Dental Sedation

At Serenity Dental, we offer a couple of different types of sedation:

  • Oral Sedation is given as a pill prescribed to you. You’ll receive instructions on when to take the medication before your scheduled treatment.
  • IV or intravenous sedation is delivered through a vein. This type of sedation goes into effect quickly and can be monitored and adjusted throughout your dental procedure. When your appointment is over, and the IV is removed, it does not take long to recover. We’ve partnered with REM Anesthesia to provide safe, effective IV sedation for our patients. 

We recommend having a family member or friend drive you to and from your appointment after any kind of sedation is used. 

Dental Sedation in Olathe, KS

Do You Feel Pain with Dental Sedation?

No, you do not feel pain while sedated. We still apply local anesthesia to numb the area of your mouth that we will treat. We do this because the nerves in your mouth will still feel pain, even though you won’t remember what is happening. We don’t want you to leave your sedated state immediately feeling pain. We do not numb your mouth until you are already sedated.

Sedation Dentist in Olathe, KS

If you are interested in the benefits of sedation dentistry, please contact our dental office in Olathe, Kansas. We can answer your questions and schedule an appointment to discuss your needs with Dr. Silva. At Serenity Dental, we always strive to make you comfortable while we take care of your teeth.