What is Sedation Dentistry in Ottawa?

Sedation dentistry refers to the use of pharmaceutical agents to relax and alleviate levels of stress and anxiety in the patient. No matter what form of sedation you may choose, the procedures are monitored by highly trained and experienced professionals. You will be safe throughout your dentist experience and in good, caring hands.

Before any sedative is administered, your dentist will go over your medical history with you and address any concerns you may have associated with the upcoming sedation or dental procedure. Based on your medical and personal history, your sedation dentist in Ottawa will determine and recommend the appropriate sedative for you. Please feel free to ask any questions and address any concerns you may have regarding the sedatives and their administration, including our personnel’s past experience with the agent. The only thing more important to us than your comfort is your safety!

Forms of Sedation Dentistry in Ottawa

In an effort to provide you with the most comfortable and painless dental experience possible, we offer the following sedation techniques to make your visit as relaxed and pain-free as possible.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide, more commonly referred to as “laughing gas,” is an odourless gas with euphoric effects. The gas will be administered through a mask and allows you to be relaxed and put at ease during your dental procedure.  

The administration of nitrous oxide is advisable for people with mild anxiety and has two big upsides. Number one is that it allows you to remain conscious and alert during the entire dental procedure. You will be able to communicate with your dentist. As a result, this form of sedation dentistry in Ottawa does not affect your daily routine afterwards. As the gas wears off quickly after being administered, you will not feel any lasting effects. You will also not require accompaniment as you will be able to drive home yourself from your appointment within minutes.

The second big advantage of nitrous oxide sedation is that its administration is non-invasive. You will simply breathe in the gas via a mask. It therefore represents a great alternative for people with trypanophobia (fear of needles) and does not require an injection. (However, it does not replace local anesthesia that may be required for certain procedures.)

Oral Sedation

This is one of the simplest sedation techniques available. A sedative is administered to you in the form of a pill. You will be asked to take the pill about an hour before the start of your appointment. This form of sedation dentistry in Ottawa is very simple and can be used for both adults and children. The level of sedation is mild, leaving you with a relaxed feeling going into your procedure. It allows you to stay awake throughout the appointment. 

As a potential side effect of this method, you may have some trouble remembering the appointment afterward. You will also need somebody to drive you to and from the appointment as you may feel a bit drowsy afterward.

Local Anesthetic

As mentioned above, the listed sedation techniques cannot replace the injection of a local anesthetic. Some procedures will require your mouth to be numbed to make your experience as comfortable and pain-free as possible. In these cases, a local anesthetic will be injected by the sedation dentist in Ottawa. While the local anesthetic can not be replaced with the sedative techniques listed above, it can safely be administered in combination with either oral sedation or nitrous oxide sedation, making the sedatives a good solution for people with fear of needles and/or injections.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry in Ottawa

While sedation will not cure your dental anxieties, it may alleviate them before and during the procedure. It is generally safe for patients of all ages, provided their medical history does not indicate any associated risks.

Benefits include:

• less anxiety (while remaining conscious): you will feel more relaxed and at ease during your dental visit
• regular visits (associated with less stress and anxiety): providing these sedatives will, hopefully, put you more at ease before your dental appointment and enable you to meet your regular dental appointments
• with minimal risk: the sedation techniques we offer are safe for patients of all ages. Our experienced dental professionals will also go over your medical history prior to administering them, making sure that you are a good fit and that there will be no unexpected complications.

Sedation dentistry is also a great option for patients who may be uncooperative. It, therefore, poses an option for patients who are very young or require special needs and suffer from Dentophobia.