What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is a safe and completely effective way to help anxious patients feel relaxed. With sedation, you drift into a deeply relaxed state while Dr. Ruff completes your dental treatment. We insure your safety by utilizing a state of the art pulse oximeter and a blood pressure monitoring system and amplified pretracheal sedation stethoscope throughout the sedated appointment. After your appointment, you will have little memory of the treatment. Sedation may be necessary for people who are especially nervous, have a strong gag reflex, experience difficulty getting numb, or need to undergo extensive or complex dental procedures. When you request sedation, Dr. Ruff may recommend one of the following options:
Nitrous Oxide
You may already know nitrous oxide as laughing gas. With this option, you simply breathe a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide through a small inhaler. Many patients like to use nitrous oxide since it keeps them calm during their appointment and leaves their system a few minutes after they stop breathing it. One great advantage of this form of sedation is that it is not necessary to have someone drive you to and from your appointment.
Oral Sedation
If a deeper level of sedation is needed, Dr. Ruff may recommend oral sedation. Before your appointment, Dr. Ruff will have you take a series of sedative pills. During your treatment, you will be awake and relaxed but consciously sedated while Dr. Ruff is treating you. Once your appointment is over, you will need someone you trust to escort you home since you will still be under the effects of the sedation.
When you elect to receive sedation for a particular treatment, a member of Dr. Ruff’s administrative team will schedule an initial consultation with you to inquire about your health and carefully listen to any of your concerns. If you want to know how sedation can help you, contact Ascot Aesthetic Implants & Dentistry at (910) 672-6814 for more information.
