Sedation Dentistry: Yes, You Really Can Relax in the Dentist’s Chair

If the mere thought of sitting in the dental chair for a routine cleaning, exam, or treatment makes you feel stressed or worried, you’re not alone: Millions of people in the United States have some degree of dental anxiety.

More than 1 in 3 Americans (36%) suffers from odontophobia, an anxiety disorder that can cause excessive fear of the dentist. 

No matter where you fall on the spectrum of dental anxiety, we can help.

At Burbank Dental Studio in Burbank, California, Dr. Annie Aboulian and our team offer a full scope of sedation dentistry services to help you remain fully relaxed when you’re in our chair, so you can get the treatment you need to maintain optimal oral health and function. 

Three tiers of sedation and relaxation

Sedation dentistry involves the administration of safe, calming medicines to help anxious or fearful patients of all ages feel at ease while receiving dental care. Depending on your level of anxiety and treatment needs, Dr. Annie may recommend:

• Conscious mild sedation with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) 
• Conscious moderate oral sedation, also known as enteral sedation
• Deep, semi-conscious relaxation with intravenous (IV) sedation 

The only form of sedation we don’t offer at Burbank Dental Studio is general anesthesia, or unconscious sedation that’s typically used in surgical procedures to put you to sleep. 

A closer look at your sedation options

Whether you’ve always been nervous about receiving dental care or you became fearful after an unusually bad experience, there’s a dental sedation method that can alleviate your anxieties and help you feel completely relaxed while you’re in the dental chair. 

 Let’s take a closer look at how each level of dental sedation helps you relax:

Mild sedation

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a mild dental sedative that’s administered through a small nasal mask. You inhale the soothing, fast-acting medicine along with oxygen as you breathe; it generates a sense of relaxation and calm in a matter of moments. 

 While it’s very relaxing, laughing gas doesn’t make you sleepy — you’re able to maintain control of your reflexes and communicate normally while sedated. Its effects are also easily reversed; you can drive yourself home afterward. 

 Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective choice for anyone who has mild dental anxiety, including children. Because our team controls the concentration levels of the gas, we can easily and accurately adjust it to patients of all ages.  

Moderate sedation

Oral sedation is an ideal approach for mild to moderate dental anxiety. With this method, you swallow a sedative medication (pill or liquid) a few minutes before your visit. 

As the medicine takes effect, feelings of calm and tranquility replace anxiety, stress, or fear for the duration of your appointment. For the average patient, oral sedation produces a deep, calming effect, often accompanied by some degree of drowsiness, in about 20 minutes. 

While you can expect to feel completely relaxed with oral sedation, you also remain fully conscious and able to speak and respond to instructions normally.  

Deep sedation

Intravenous (IV) sedation is a form of deep sedation used to alleviate severe dental anxiety. It delivers calming medications directly into your veins, rapidly fostering total relaxation and a semi-conscious state. You don’t fall asleep, but you’re less aware of your surroundings and the dental procedure.  

Because these medicines hit your bloodstream immediately, the onset of IV sedation happens much faster than it does with oral sedation or even nitrous oxide.  

Safe for patients of all ages, IV sedation is especially beneficial during long dental procedures because it allows our team to extend and control the sedative effects for as long as necessary. IV sedation may not be a good option, however, if you’re afraid of needles.

What to expect with strong sedation 

In addition to their powerful anxiety-easing effects, both oral and IV sedation leave you drowsy and can impair your memory; once the medicine wears off, you may have no memory of your treatment, or you may recall only part of your time in the chair. Someone else must drive you home.   

Because no form of sedation blocks pain, all methods are used in conjunction with a local anesthetic for more invasive treatments like fillings, extractions, and root canal therapy. But don’t worry — you don’t receive an anesthetic injection until the sedative has taken effect. 

A brief word on dental sedation safety

Dr. Annie is fully licensed and highly experienced in sedation dentistry. To ensure optimal safety and effectiveness, she asks you detailed health questions, prescribes the medicine that’s best suited to your needs, and provides detailed preparation guidelines.     

When administering stronger oral or IV sedation, our team follows the sedation guidelines of the American Dental Association, monitoring your blood pressure, pulse, and respiration throughout the course of your treatment.  

Are you ready to gain the upper hand over dental anxiety? Dr. Annie and our team at Burbank Dental Studio in Burbank, California, can help. Give us a call today, or use our online booking feature to request an appointment anytime.