White Wolf Dental Group

Sedation dentistry enables patients who have fear or anxiety of dental work to be able to take advantage of modern procedures to undo years of damage in one or two visits.

Sedation dentistry relaxes the patient to the point that he or she will not feel anything during the procedure, and most likely will not remember anything.

We are trained and licensed to administer both oral (pill) and intravenous (IV) sedation.

Below is a list of FAQs on Sedation Dentistry to help answer any questions you might have, if you have any further question, call us to to set up an appointment for a consultation.

> What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry enables patients who have fear or anxiety of dental work to be able to take advantage of modern procedures.

Sedation dentistry does not render the patient unconscious. Instead, the patient is extremely relaxed. The patient will not feel anything during the procedure, and most likely will not remember anything.

Sedation dentistry enables a dentist to administer multiple procedures in just one sitting.

> How does sedation dentistry work?

Prior to your procedure, you are given a sedative that comfortably relaxes you. You are taken into the treatment room, where your vital signs can be observed. Additional medications may be given intravenously (IV) if you and the Doctor have chosen this method. This allows continuous adjustment of your degree of relaxation. Upon completion of your treatment, a friend or family member will drive you home. Many times our patients say that they don't even remember the procedure, much less experience any pain.

> Who is a candidate for sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry can be utilized by a number of patients, ranging from those who have had traumatic experiences to people with a bad gag reflex. People who have a high fear or anxiety of dentistry procedures, difficulty getting numb, or sensitive teeth may also prefer sedation dentistry. Some people with compromised medical conditions do better with sedation. Anxiety can put huge stress on your heart, blood pressure etc. With sedation, we can not only monitor these changes, but we routinely see BP's drop into safe ranges as the patient relaxes.

> What if I have medical problems?

Often times, sedation can be a safer way to have dentistry done if there are medical complications. The relaxation of sedation means less stress on your heart, etc. We often work with a nurse anesthetist to help us on longer, more complex treatment. This adds yet another degree of safety. Of course, if your condition is very severe, you may not be a candidate for any elective medical procedure. But we can discuss that at your evaluation.

> Will I be completely unconscious?

No. Although you will not feel any pain and may not remember anything, sedation dentistry does not involve unconsciousness. You will just be in a state of extreme relaxation.

> How long will I be sedated for?

The length of time you will be sedated for will depend on the length of your procedure. We control the dosage so that you will be relaxed for an hour, or up to six hours if need be. You will be monitored the entire time regardless of how long your procedure lasts.

To learn more about sedation dentistry, call us to set up an appointment for a consultation.