Dental Sedation For: Enumclaw, Federal Way, Puyallup, Sumner, & Kent WA
How Dental Sedation is Done
Neil E. Bergstrom, DDS, understands that not everyone enjoys the dental experience that much and many people downright dread having dental work done. For those people and those who are undergoing more serious dental procedures. we offer intravenous sedation that will give the patient a comfortable experience. Our top concern is the safety and comfort of all of our patients. We will do everything we can to ensure that they are receiving the very best care available. Plan Ahead
It is important that you plan properly before any IV sedation. This means ensuring that you have a friend or family member come with you to the appointment so that they can drive you home afterward. Many times patients experience grogginess or light nausea after sedation and should not drive.It’s not a bad idea to have someone who can stay with you for a couple hours after the procedure to ensure that you are comfortable and taken care of afterward.
How will I feel while sedated?
When you are put under IV sedation, typically you are conscious but will remember very little. Your ability to feel discomfort or pain will be non-existent during IV sedation, ensuring your comfort through the entire procedure. Some people have a fear of needles and don’t want to undergo the experience of having the numbing agent administered, but even that experience is impossible to remember or feel while under this sedation.There is no way to know how you will feel after sedation unless you have been placed under IV sedation before and remember what it was like. Some people come out of IV sedation and feel pretty good, others feel groggy for several hours following sedation. Sometimes feelings of grogginess can last all day. Everyone has different reaction to sedation, so it is best to prepare to feel groggy even if that isn’t what ends up happening.
The Different Kinds of Sedation
The following as some of the different varieties of sedation that we use in typical dental procedures:| • | Inhaled minimal sedation. Nitrous oxide is one of the most frequently used forms of sedation in the dental field. Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is very good at providing a relaxed, sense of disassociation. Commonly administered via a mask that fits over your nose and mixed with oxygen. The effects of inhaled sedations can be counteracted quickly and effectively with a more oxygen rich mixture. |
| • | Oral sedation.Oral sedation is typically given in pill form and can be used for minimal to moderate sedation. Often, Halcion is the drug that is administered for this kind of sedation. |
| • | IV moderate sedation. Fast working, and administered through and IV directly into the bloodstream, this method allows for a finely tuned and easily adjustable level of sedation. |
| • | Deep sedation and general anesthesia. With this form of sedation, the patient is placed in a near unconscious or totally unconscious state. At this level of sedation, it is very difficult to arouse the patient until the sedation wears off. |
Levels of Sedation
Being able to provide the appropriate level of sedation is a very important part of the sedation procedure. If the patient is not sedated enough, there is a good chance that they will experience some stress or concern over the procedure. If the patient is over-sedated there are some serious health risks that could accompany the procedure. For this reason, it is terribly important that you have professional who is very familiar with sedation techniques and best-practices overseeing your procedure.The following is a list of the continuum of sedation:
| • | Minimal Sedation. Patient shows a typical response to being asked questions and holding conversations. |
| • | Moderate Sedation. Patient shows purposeful response to both verbal and tactile stimulation. This is sometimes called conscious sedation. |
| • | Deep Sedation. Patient shows a purposeful response to repeated of painful stimulation. |
| • | General Anesthesia. Patient is not able to be aroused despite all painful stimulus. |
Is Sedation Safe?
IV sedation is absolutely safe. We go out of our way to ensure only the most experienced professionals administer and oversee all of our patients. It is very important that you share with us any medications that you are taking or have recently taken so that we can ensure that there will be no complications. It is also important to share your medical history with us so that we can determine if we need to take any special precautions in your sedation.If we feel it is necessary, we may ask that you consult with your physician before undergoing sedation with us to prevent any unwanted problems.
Screening our Patients
As a safety precaution, we always screen our patients for any known medical conditions that might hinder or cause issues with patient sedation. Below are some of the most common issues that can affect patient sedation:| • | Heart conditions |
| • | Kidney conditions |
| • | Known allergies or sensitivities |
| • | History of stroke |
| • | History of transient ischemic attack |
| • | Issues with medications that are currently being taken |
| • | Neuromuscular disorders |
If you are affected by any of the conditions listed above, don’t worry, we can almost always find a way to treat you. It’s important for us to be aware of such conditions so that we can find a more effective, safer way to sedate you.
Medications We Use for Dental Sedation
Reversal drugs:
| • | Naloxone |
| • | Flumazenil |
Technology We Use for Dental Sedation
Additional equipment:
| • | Portable Oxygen |
| • | Emergency Kit |
| • | A.E.D. |
If you have questions or concerns regarding IV sedation, please feel free to call us today at 360-625-0006 and we will be happy to help you!
