Sedation Dentistry FAQs Whittier, CA

Sedation dentistry is the use of special medications that help patients receive dental treatment without pain or anxiety. Sedation can range from helping someone feel more relaxed to full anesthesia that puts you to sleep. We also use medical numbing agents topically to numb the areas of the mouth we are working on.

Sedation dentistry can be used for any procedure at the dentist if a child or adult has anxiety or phobias surrounding dental work. Dental sedation and numbing agents are also used for certain types of procedures that might cause pain without the application of medicine. Possible applications of sedation dentistry include:

• Routine teeth cleanings
• Dental fillings
• Wisdom teeth extractions
• Dental implant surgery
• Braces application and adjustment
• Periodontal procedures such as gum grafts
• Cosmetic dentistry procedures
• Dental crown application

Pretty much anything that requires a visit to the dentist could potentially be helped with dental sedation, depending on the person.

Dental sedation can be delivered to patients in a number of ways, including oral (by mouth) administration of pills, inhaled gas (nitrous oxide), or IV administration. Numbing agents are often applied with a syringe (needle) or via a gel.

It’s not uncommon for both adults and children to have some anxiety when undergoing a dental procedure, even something as common as a teeth cleaning. Unfortunately, if a dental phobia is really strong, it could potentially keep someone from getting the oral healthcare they need.

Our goal at Dentists of Whittier is to help every patient feel comfortable so they can get the critical oral care they need. We have found sedation dentistry to be exceptionally helpful in soothing anxious children and adults so dental procedures are no longer a problem.

Dental sedation is very safe, though some people may rarely have an allergy to certain types of medication. Of course, please alert our staff beforehand of any known allergies. Our staff is fully trained to deal with any type of allergic reaction.

Conscious dental sedation is the most common type of sedation. The patient is fully awake with conscious sedation but will not experience pain or discomfort. We may use local anesthesia such as a numbing agent on the gums while performing certain procedures. Or, to reduce anxiety, we may administer nitrous oxide through a mask (aka laughing gas). Nitrous oxide is safe for both adults and children. It will help you or your child feel at ease and relaxed during your dental procedure.

Twilight sedation is a step up from conscious sedation. You aren’t fully asleep, but you aren’t quite fully awake either. It’s like being in a dreamlike state where you can respond to questions and instructions from the dental team, but you probably won’t remember much afterwards. Twilight sedation might be administered through an IV or via a mask with nitrous oxide. This type of sedation is used for slightly more intensive dental procedures, such as crown placement.

Unconscious sedation, where you are fully asleep, is basically the same thing as general anesthesia given in a hospital, and it is used primarily for oral surgery.