Sedation Dentistry

Many people experience dental anxiety before and during dental procedures. It's okay to feel nervous or even fearful when anticipating an appointment. We understand that our parents aren't all the same. At Museum Dental in Yorkville, we have many methods available to provide you with a relaxed, comfortable dental experience.

The most common forms used in dentistry are inhaled (nitrous oxide), oral, and intravenous sedation. While sedation dentistry makes the procedure more tolerable for you, it is important to understand that they are not painkillers, and you will still require the use of dental anesthetic.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide (commonly known as "laughing gas") is a sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled from a mask over the nose. You are not asleep, just relaxed and unconcerned about dental treatment. The gas takes effect quickly, and is often enough to calm a patient who is nervous about getting a numbing injection to start treatment. Nitrous oxide wears off almost immediately after the flow of gas is stopped, and has no residual wooziness, so you may drive or return to work or other activities right away.

Oral Sedation

This method creates a deeper level of sedation than laughing gas. Our Yorkville dental team will prescribe a medication for you to take before your appointment to reduce anxiety. A wide variety of medications are available for this type of sedation, and your dentist will carefully discuss your individual needs to determine which option works best for you. All these medications are classified as anti-anxiety medications and achieve the same result, reducing and even eliminating the anxiety of dental treatment.

In addition to making your experience more comfortable, oral sedative medications help reduce your memory of the experience. It allos us to complete your treatment in less time and with fewer appointments. While your treatment is performed, our doctors carefully monitor your vital signs to ensure that your experience is as safe as possible. Another advantage of this type of sedation is that it can safely be used along with laughing gas for an even deeper feeling of relaxation. Because the effects of oral sedation last longer than with laughing gas alone, you will need someone to bring you to your appointment and drive you home after.

Have more questions about sedation dentistry? Reach out to our Museum Dental team in Yorkville, Toronto and we'll be glad to help!