Sedation Dentistry
Woodburn, OR
 Your comfort is our first concern. For patients who need a little extra to help them relax, sedation dentistry has helped hundreds of fearful people get needed dental treatment without any pain and very little memory of the appointment. Dr. Horn has the extensive training and experience necessary to offer sedation dentistry. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are available, depending on your needs.
Inhalation Sedation
Often called "laughing gas," nitrous oxide sedation is used to relieve mild to moderate dental anxiety or relieve the tedium of longer dental procedures. It produces a mild state of euphoria that has been often described as similar to a couple of alcoholic beverages. It is administrated by a nasal hood during the procedure, induces a mild state of well being during the procedure, and the effects of the gas are relieved quickly by breathing oxygen through the mask for a few minutes after the end of the procedure. Unlike other forms of sedation, you do not have to have an attendant to drive you to and from your appointments and stay with you after the procedure. The benefits of nitrous oxide sedation are:
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Effective for mild to moderate anxiety
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Proven safety record
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Offers an analgesic (pain relieving) effect
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It is quick-acting, with few side effects
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You do not need someone to escort you to and from the office
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You can return to normal activities immediately |
The potential problems associated with nitrous oxide are:
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Some people are not comfortable with the effects of laughing gas (either because they are afraid they might lose control or because it makes them feel nauseated – this is quite rare, and is usually due to over-sedation).
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Some people will not achieve adequate sedation with permissible levels of oxygen.
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If you cannot breathe through your nose (either because you are a pure mouth breather, or because your nose is blocked), or you feel too claustrophobic when something is put over your nose, it cannot be used. |
As always if you have any questions please feel free to call us and ask.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation utilizes oral sedative medication to significantly reduce your fears and discomfort. Oral conscious sedation does not require needles to administer and is less expensive than IV sedation. Benefits include:
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Very effective for mild to moderate anxiety
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Safe and easy
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You can breathe and speak on your own |
Unlike general anesthesia, which renders patients completely unconscious, or IV sedation that requires placing an intravenous catheter, with oral conscious sedation you take a prescribed medication that leaves you able to speak and breathe on your own. Although you will not actually be asleep, you will enjoy a heightened state of relaxation – and probably will not remember much about the procedure afterwards. Your appointment will be a "dream" and hours in the chair will feel like minutes.
Oral conscious sedation will put you at ease so you experience little to no discomfort; however, your doctor will also administer a local anesthetic to ensure that you do not experience any pain. At this point in the procedure you will be so relaxed that you will hardly even notice.
Two appointments are generally required for a procedure utilizing oral conscious sedation. During your first visit, your doctor will take a detailed health history. If you are comfortable, he or she will look in your mouth and take digital x-rays. Next you will be given a prescription for a sedative medication to take the night before your second appointment so you can enjoy a good night's sleep. The day of the procedure we will have you take the same medication about thirty minutes prior to your appointment.
You will be asked to have a companion bring you to and from the office for your second visit. Once you arrive, we may have you take additional medication to ensure that you are in a tranquil state of mind. We may also utilize nitrous oxide with your sedation. Our sedation team will monitor your comfort throughout your entire visit. When your procedure is finished and we are confident that you can safely go home, we will release you to your "attendant" to go home and rest for the rest of the day.
Mid Valley Family Dental caters to comfort!
If you have had a traumatic experience at the dentist in the past, let's discuss the options of sedation dentistry. Once you have experienced sedation/anxiety free dentistry with Dr. Horn, you will probably never be afraid to go to the dentist again. You will be sedated just enough to be unaware of the treatment, almost as if you were asleep. You will wake up refreshed, with little or no memory of what was accomplished. Because you are completely comfortable, Dr. Horn can do years of dental treatments in as little as one or two visits. |
