Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry in the Olathe, KS area

Call Esthetic Enhancement at (913) 829-9222 today!

Sedation dentistry refers to the process of establishing a relaxed, calm state during a dental treatment through the use of sedatives, and is an ideal solution for fearful patients or extensive treatments that would otherwise require multiple appointments. Different sedatives vary in degrees of relaxation. Conscious sedation involves administering a sedative, such as nitrous oxide or light oral sedation while the patient is alert and awake to reach a state of light relaxation.

For severe cases of dental phobia, it’s possible for a patient to undergo a major dental procedure and remember very little of it with the help of one of our anesthesiologists. The type of sedative a patient can receive will depend on the patient’s degree of anxiety and the extent of the procedure that we are going to be performing. Sedation allows you to feel comfortable in our office while we do our best to create a state of relaxation and manage the fear and pain you may experience during dental procedures.

• Local anesthesia – administered by injecting medication into the tissue or by applying a medication topically to an area to eliminate sensation.

• Minimal sedation – used most frequently in dentistry and usually involves taking medications orally. All bodily functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on his or her own. Patients may respond normally to verbal commands and may experience some degree of amnesia about what happened during their visit. Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” may be used to achieve minimal sedation and in combination with a recommended dosage of oral medication.

• Moderate sedation – achieved by using medications that can be taken orally or intravenously. Patients who undergo moderate sedation are awake and respond to touch and/or verbal commands. All bodily functions remain normal, and you will not need assistance breathing.

• Deep sedation – can be achieved by injecting medication, giving oral medications, and in combination with gasses. Patients who are deeply sedated are not easily woken up, but may respond to some stimulation. Patients may need some breathing assistance at deeper levels.

Patients suffering from dental phobia are often hesitant to undergo long or complex dental procedures, as they aren’t sure whether they can withstand long periods of time in the dental chair. With sedation dentistry, however, you will be able to endure the smile makeover you’ve always wanted. This is due in part to the fact that sedatives make long procedures seem like only a few minutes. Upon leaving, you will be in a relaxed, and anxiety-free state while we are free to perform the procedure with ease. Appointments that would generally require multiple visits can often be performed in just one due to the patients increased cooperation.

And since sedation dentistry helps reduce many fears experienced by anxious patients, patients are more likely to go to the dentist for routine care and other treatments once they understand the ease in which a treatment can be performed under the use of sedatives.