Many people experience dental anxiety before and during dental procedures. It’s okay to feel nervous or even fearful when anticipating an appointment. We understand that our patients aren’t all the same. Great Northwest Dental in Auburn, WA provides customized sedation options to help patients overcome fear, reduce stress, and experience pain-free treatment.
The most common forms of sedation used in dentistry are inhaled, oral, and intravenous sedation. While sedation dentistry makes the procedure more tolerable for you, it is important to understand that they are not painkillers, and you will still require the use of dental anesthetic.
Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation is ideal for patients who:
- Experience dental anxiety or phobia
- Have a low pain tolerance or sensitive gag reflex
- Require multiple or complex treatments in one visit
- Struggle with sitting still for extended periods
- Have difficulty getting numb with local anesthesia
Types of Sedation Dentistry Available
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Laughing gas is an excellent way to combat anxiety for most dental procedures. The mildest form of sedation that we use, laughing gas is inhaled through a small mask that rests over your nose. Laughing gas is odorless and is used in combination with pure oxygen to induce a feeling of relaxation and well-being during treatment. We can easily customize the level of sedation for each patient, which takes effect within minutes.
Being a mild sedative, you won’t experience any short-term memory loss as you might with other forms of sedation. At the end of treatment, the sedative effect caused by the laughing gas dissipates almost immediately when the mask is removed, and you will be able to return home with zero lasting effects. You don’t even need an escort to or from your appointment if you are using only laughing gas for sedation
Oral Sedation
A prescribed medication taken before the appointment to induce deeper relaxation. Patients remain conscious but feel drowsy and at ease throughout the procedure.
What to Expect with Sedation Dentistry
- Consultation & Evaluation – The dentist reviews medical history and discusses the best sedation option for individual needs.
- Pre-Treatment Preparation – Instructions are provided based on the type of sedation used, including any necessary fasting.
- Relaxed Dental Treatment – Sedation is administered, and the procedure is performed while ensuring patient comfort.
- Post-Sedation Recovery – Most sedation options require a short recovery period, with minimal aftereffects for nitrous oxide patients.
Safe & Comfortable Care for Every Patient
Dental care should be a stress-free experience. Advanced sedation techniques allow anxious patients to receive treatment without fear or discomfort. The team at Great Northwest Dental prioritizes patient comfort and safety, ensuring a relaxing environment for all procedures.
Get In Touch
Call Us
(253)833-6033
Visit Us
1346 8th NE, STE 100
Auburn, WA 98002
Hours
Monday: 7am – 4pm
Tuesday: 7am – 5pm
Wednesday: 7am – 7pm
Thursday: 7am – 4:30pm
Friday: 7am – 2:30pm