Sedation dentistry can change your view of dentistry in a matter of a few hours.  Most patients feel no discomfort whatsoever and have little or no memory of your visit after the procedure.  Give yourself or a loved one the gift of great oral health by calling Dr. Merrick’s Dental Studio to schedule your oral sedation consultation today.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide is commonly used in many dental practices today, to ease the anxiety many patients feel toward dental treatment, as it offers some degree of pain management. The benefits of nitrous oxide are many, and the risks are few. The gas is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose, and the patient is instructed to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. As a precaution, patients should not eat anything for about two hours prior to dental appointment. The patient begins to feel a pleasant level of relaxation in anywhere from 30 seconds to four minutes. The cheeks and gums will also begin to feel numb in about a third of the patients.

Conscious Oral Sedation

Oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill.  The pill will make you drowsy, although you'll still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.