Sedation Dentistry vs. Sleep Dentistry

In Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario

The introduction of anesthesia was one of the most impactful discoveries in the medical field. Dentists were the first medical professionals to embrace anesthesia, and remain innovators in the field. More than simply numbing the area around the tooth or teeth to be repaired, we now are able to offer patients a combination of local anesthesia and sedation dentistry in many forms. Each type of sedation offers a level of comfort to you as a patient to enable you to put aside anxieties or concerns while sitting in the dentist’s chair.

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is a term that encompasses all the types of sedation offered. There is conscious and unconscious sedation dentistry, which can be administered:

• Orally (pill)
• Intravenously (IV)
• Through inhalation (gas)

Conscious Sedation Dentistry

Conscious sedation dentistry simply means you are awake during the entire procedure, whether it be a smile makeover with porcelain veneers or a simple tooth-coloured filling. The sedative is most often administered orally by giving you a sedative pill to take roughly one hour before the procedure. The sedative helps calm you and allows you to forget about your nervous concerns.

Another option for administration is through inhalation, usually using nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. Contrary to its name, laughing gas rarely induces laughter, but rather invokes a general feeling of relaxation.

Unconscious Sedation (Sleep) Dentistry

Many individuals mistakenly refer to sedation dentistry as “sleep dentistry.” It would be more correct to distinguish between conscious sedation and deep sedation or unconscious sedation that might be described as sleep dentistry.

Unconscious sedation dentistry is performed through intravenous (IV) sedation administration. Much like for any other type of surgery, the sedative is added to a solution which is applied intravenously, usually in your hand or arm. When the procedure is complete, the doctor discontinues the administration of the sleep sedative and you are brought back to consciousness.

While many people may feel that unconscious sedation dentistry is necessary to feel comfortable during a dental procedure, it is recommended that you use the lowest level of sedation that will adequately calm your nerves. Asking your dentist about these options will allow him or her to discuss your concerns and help you decide which level of sedation dentistry is right for you.

You can learn more about sedation dentistry by contacting Willow Dental Associates today, serving Toronto, Mississauga, and the surrounding areas of Ontario.