Sedation dentistry NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

Nitrous oxide has been a mainstay of sedation dentistry for decades and is still the most frequently employed sedation technique today. Commonly known as “laughing gas”, nitrous oxide is used by more than 35% of all U.S. dentists. Nitrous oxide is commonly used because within 5 minutes of inhaling the colorless, odorless gas pain is neutralized and a euphoric feeling spreads through the body. Within minutes, the dental procedure can begin and the patient will be completely relaxed. Nitrous oxide allows the dentist to alter the depth of sedation from minute to minute, making the experience pain and fear free. After the gas is stopped, the patient will return to normal within minutes. You will be able to safely drive yourself home and will not need an escort. Nitrous Oxide does not require the use of a needle, so those who are afraid of needles will benefit from this form of sedation. And, nitrous oxide is very safe; there are relatively few side effects and the drugs have no effect on the major organs.

IV Conscious Sedation is an effective technique for managing moderate to severe dental anxiety. While not as readily available in most dental offices, we believe it is a valuable tool for ensuring a patient’s complete relaxation during a procedure they would not ordinarily have had done due to extreme fear. Prior to the procedure, drugs are administered intravenously. Drugs administered by IV are far more effective than those taken orally because the doctor can control exactly how much is administered directly into the blood stream. During the procedure, monitoring devices are placed on the patient to monitor their heart rate, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and breathing. The patient will be awake through the whole procedure, allowing the dentist to give them directions, which they will be able to follow. However, the medications administered during IV conscious sedation leave the patient with amnesia of the procedure. The patient will remember nothing about their experience! In order to provide IV Conscious Sedation dentistry, specialized advanced training and certification by the state Board of Dental Examiners was required and completed.

For certain dental procedures, your dentist will need to numb parts of your mouth. In order to do so, medicine is injected into your gum or inner cheek. This medicine is called a local anesthetic. Lidocaine is the most common local anesthetic used in dentistry, however, there are many others. All types of numbing drugs are combined with other medications to make the numbing last longer. Numbing usually lasts several hours but wears off over time. Numbing just the area where dentistry needs to be performed allows the dentist to perform procedures without pain or discomfort. Because you are still conscious, you can answer prompts and commands quickly and easily. And, because you have not been sedated, you can usually drive yourself home or go back to work immediately after the appointment.