SEDATION DENTISTRY

Patient Comfort Comes First

Many people have anxiety or even a phobia about going to the dentist. Patients with dental anxiety may have had a bad experience with a former provider that makes them nervous about visiting a dentist, even when the appointment is a seemingly simple one. At Go Dental, we want to help patients feel as comfortable as possible—without judgment. Whether you’re undergoing a dental procedure or just need a little extra help relaxing before an appointment, we are here to help.

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Oral Sedation

If going to the dentist makes you nervous, we can help you feel more relaxed at your next appointment. Taking an oral sedative 30 to 60 minutes before your appointment can help you feel more comfortable during your appointment. Oral sedation medication will not lessen any pain. If necessary, our dentist will still need to administer a local anesthetic.

Oral sedation helps patients feel groggy and relaxed. However, you will most likely not fall asleep and will still be able to communicate with your dentist. Because oral sedation temporarily affects your memory and motor skills, you will still need a family member or friend to drive you to and from your appointment. Go home and rest until the sedation has worn off.

IV SEDATION

Go Dental works with UCLA Anesthesia Group for patients who elect to use IV sedation. IV sedation is a way to administer various levels of anesthesia to patients undergoing certain dental procedures. There are certain procedures in which anesthesia via IV sedation is necessary due to pain associated with the procedure. Patients with high levels of anxiety about going to the dentist and patients with mental disabilities may also undergo IV sedation. There are different levels of IV sedation:

Mild sedation’s effects are similar to those of oral medication. Patients under mild sedation will feel drowsy but still be able to communicate with their dentist.

Patients who undergo deep anesthesia are completely asleep throughout the procedure.

It can take patients up to 24 hours to fully recover from IV sedation, and patients should plan on having a family member or trusted friend drive them home after their appointment. Wait 24 hours before driving again.

PREPARING FOR SEDATION DENTISTRY

Before your appointment, your Go Dental dentist will go over the instructions for sedation and answer any questions that you may have. If receiving IV sedation, your dentist will most likely recommend the following:

It’s important to be transparent with your dentist about your health to make sure that sedation dentistry is the best choice for you.

There are some medications that you should still be able to take before sedation. However there are certain medications, such as blood thinners, that should be avoided in the days leading up to the sedation.

When you can last eat and drink before your sedation will be determined by your dentist and the type of procedure.