At Corson Dentistry, our team understands a trip to the dentist can be one of the last things anyone looks forward to, and many patients experience discomfort, anxiety or fear when preparing for their dental appointment. That's why we've designed our modern dental facility to be welcoming and comforting, complete with spa-like amenities and additional support for dental anxiety in the form of sedation dentistry.
Corson Dentistry offers three types of dental sedation, including laughing gas sedation. Traditional dental sedation helps patients banish dental anxiety and enjoy a more relaxing experience! Our Parker, CO dental office provides the following sedation levels:
Laughing Gas Sedation
Laughing gas is a colorless, odorless gas, inhaled at the start of a dental procedure. After about five minutes, the patient begins to experience feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Many patients feel the effects causing them to laugh, which is why its common name is laughing gas.
Patients who are provided with laughing gas typically don’t feel their dental treatment being completed, but remain conscious throughout the procedure, allowing our dentist to offer direction and ask questions throughout the treatment.
How Does Laughing Gas Work?
Patients who may feel concerned about inhaling a gaseous substance can rest assured that the dosage of laughing gas sedation is administered with a healthy amount of oxygen accompanying it. Our dentists use a mixture of 70% nitrous oxide, 30% oxygen. This keeps the process safe—with almost twice the amount of oxygen as normal air—and also still effective. The combination of oxygen and laughing gas may vary slightly depending on the procedure, but our team will always assess your health history, needs and treatment plan to determine your needs and keep you as safe as possible.
The Laughing Gas Process
Receiving nitrous oxide during your trip to the dentist is quick, easy, and painless. Although the gas is odorless, our dentists can add scents like vanilla, cherry, and mint to make your experience more enjoyable. Patients will continue to receive a steady flow of laughing gas throughout the procedure to ensure any feelings of pain or discomfort do not return.
At Corson Dentistry in Parker, our patients find the biggest advantages of laughing are that it works quickly and wears off quickly. Most patients feel completely normal after receiving treatment with laughing gas sedation, without negative effects like grogginess or weariness. Patients can even drive home a few minutes after their visit without any concerns. Since many times it can replace topical anesthesia, laughing gas is a great sedation option for patients who have a fear of needles, and it usually diminishes any gag reflexes, which is particularly useful for dental work. Overall, nitrous oxide is extremely safe and effective, providing a pain-free stress-free visit to the dentist.
Oral Conscious Sedation
One of the types of sedative available is oral sedation, which is a mild sedative taken in pill form. Oral sedatives are pills taken by the patient before treatment. Sedatives help patients to relax during dental treatments by slowing the central nervous system. While under sedation, patients are aware of their surroundings, but relaxed and less responsive to external stimuli, and a reduced sense of pain.
Most patients feel calm and relaxed after taking oral conscious sedation, but still able to respond to the dentist and his team and answer questions. Even though the sedation is mild, patients who opt for a sedative during treatment should arrange for a friend or family member to drive them home from our Parker dental office after their procedure.
At Corson Dentistry in Parker, we offer oral conscious sedation to patients of all ages who experience dental anxiety, including small children and patients with special healthcare needs who may need extra help to stay calm and still during their dental treatment.
IV Sedation
At Corson Dentistry in Parker, our team also offers intravenous (IV) sedation. For this moderate sedation dentistry method, the anesthesia is administered to the patient through a catheter or tiny needle placed in a vein within the inner elbow or back of the hand. Your dentist can continually control the level of sedation throughout the process, and will result in the patient assuming a semi-conscious or semi-awake state of reduced anxiety that allows them to relax and undergo necessary treatment.
Patients who receive IV sedation will have the ability to respond to verbal commands under IV sedation, although their speech may be impaired. Because the drug delivers an amnesic effect, however, the patient is likely to have little or no memory of the procedure. By offering this experience in a safe environment, more patients who are prone to anxiety or fear, or who possess a dental phobia, can receive the important procedures they need with relative comfort.
Who Is a Candidate for IV Sedation?
Although sedation is targeted to serve individuals who experience a keen sense of fear or trepidation when it comes to dental work, it also is suitable for those with sensitive teeth, a low pain threshold, restlessness or a sensitive gag reflex.
To offer IV sedation, dentists must be certified by the American Dental Association, complete the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) program and pass a comprehensive exam administered by their respective state’s dental board. Professionals also must regularly acquire additional hours of emergency training and continuing education to maintain their permit.
Dr. Corson is one of few dentists in the Denver area who is trained and qualified to provide IV sedation in-house. At your consultation, our team will help you determine the best sedation dentistry method for your needs!
What Dental Services are Performed with Sedation?
The team at Corson Dentistry in Parker perform dental care ranging from routine checkups to root canal treatment for patients who have selected sedation dentistry. Depending on the level of fear or anxiety a patient has about the dentist or a particular treatment, the dentist will prescribe an oral sedative to help them relax throughout their treatment. Many patients prefer to have a sedative during treatments that have a reputation of being painful.
Dr. Corson and his associates stay up to date with the most modern and innovative techniques for treatments such as fillings, root canals, dental implants, extractions, and local anesthetics. Each patient has a unique experience and perspective and Dr. Corson and his associates want all of their patients to be comfortable while in the chair and to receive the best possible dental care. Your sedation dentistry experience will always be tailored to you!
Schedule Your Sedation Dentistry Consult for an Anxiety-Free Experience
Wondering which sedation dentistry option is right for you? Dr. Corson and his team have significant training and experience in providing sedation dentistry services. Our dentists work to build lasting relationships with their patients, understanding their emotional response to dental care as well as their dentistry needs. If sedation is necessary for a patient’s treatment, Dr. Corson or one of his associate will provide a consultation with that patient to determine the best level of sedation and the best method of sedation for their needs.
Contact Corson Dentistry in Parker today to learn more about the best sedation dentistry solution for your needs!
