Sedation

Using Dental Sedation to Take the Edge Off

What is Dental Sedation?

For some patients, just the idea of going to the dentist makes them nervous. By the time they then get to the dentist, they are so wound up, that the opportunity for a great experience fades. So at Camarillo Smiles, we use sedation to take the edge off of the appointment.

Being relaxed to begin with makes the visit so much more enjoyable. How much sedation is necessary varies per person and we will discuss that at our no pressure, no judgement consultation.

A patient relaxing with laughing gas(nitrous oxide)

What options do I have for Dental Sedation?

Laughing gas. Otherwise known as nitrous oxide. It is a gas that is inhaled giving the patient a feeling of having a couple cocktails.

Oral medications. We have several different medications that can have differing levels of effect from just taking the edge off to causing sleepiness.

Dental Anesthesiologist. Another option is to bring in an anesthesiologist. This allows us to achieve complete sleep dentistry and have longer appointments where we can get everything done at once.

What is laughing gas?

Laughing gas is a combination of nitrous oxide gas and oxygen and is inhaled through a mask that is placed over your nose. Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent. It wont put you to sleep as it is not intended to do that. Instead, it sedates you just enough to make you more comfortable during your procedure. The dentists of Camarillo Smiles will control the amount of sedation you receive.

At first you might feel a little tingling in your arms and legs. Some people will even say that their arms and legs feel heavy. Then, you will feel calm and comfortable.

The nice thing about laughing gas is that the effects of it wear off soon after the mask is removed. This is the only kind of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after your visit.