Sleep Dentistry in Santa Maria

A visit to the dentist is not always fun, yet it is an essential part of life. If you find that the idea of visiting the dentist or going through a dental procedure fills you with fear and anxiety, then Dr. David Ouellet may recommend a form of sedation to help ease the anxiety and make you feel comfortable enough to receive the dental care you need.

Sleep Dentist, Sedation Dentist Near Me, Santa Maria 93454

There are different sedation techniques that can be used to calm dental patients before and during in-office treatment, or to make them more comfortable for longer procedures. Dental sedation is different from pain management. The latter involves shots and numbing agents. But if the idea of getting a numbing shot frightens you, then dental sedation can help you relax and take your mind off the treatment process.
Depending on your level of dental anxiety, Dr. David Ouellet may recommend one of the following types of dental sedation:

1. IV Moderate Conscious Sedation IV sedation can be delivered in a manner that keeps you conscious (twilight IV sedation), or as general anesthesia where you’ll be asleep or totally unconscious for the entire treatment. This is only used for oral surgery. Moderate conscious IV sedation makes you feel sleepy though you will be conscious and responsive to the dentist’s instructions. You’re unlikely to remember anything once the procedure is over.

2. Nitrous Oxide Sedation Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is usually given before dental procedures such as root canal therapy or crown placement to help patients relax. The gas is administered by placing the apparatus over your nose to inhale it. The effects are mild, and you will be conscious (awake) during the procedure. The effects wear off as soon as the apparatus is removed and you stop inhaling the gas, usually within a minute.

Nitrous oxide can be used alone, or in combination with oral sedation if stronger sedation is desired while keeping the patient awake.