What Does a Sedation Dentist Do?
- By Mary Marks
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- 27 Jun, 2022
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For some patients, a visit to a Colorado sedation dentist office causes a strong sense of anxiety. It is difficult for these patients to start treatment even if they are told that the entire procedure will be performed under local anesthesia.
What is sedation?
Conscious sedation involves the administration of substances or medication that induce a state of well-being, the patient reaching a state of relaxation and comfort but remaining awake throughout the treatment. In this way, they will be able to cooperate with the dentist.
Sedation dentists determine the type of sedation they are going to administer, depending on the procedure they will perform and on the particularities of each patient.
There are several types of sedation you can use:
IV sedation: Before starting the actual dental treatment, the doctor will inject the sedative substance, usually into a vein in the patient's hand. The patient will become relaxed and slightly drowsy but will remain awake and cooperative. After the procedure, the patient will be kept under observation for another hour.
Inhalation sedation with "laughing gas" - The patient is invited to inhale nitrous oxide through a mask, which quickly takes effect, ensuring a comfortable feeling of relaxation.
Pill sedation: In this case, the doctor may prescribe oral sedatives such as Valium or Xanax, usually one hour before the procedure.





Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.




