Sedation Dentistry
For most people who are nervous, our team's friendly manner, comfort amenities, and gentle approach to dentistry are enough to help our patients feel relaxed. For a fearful few, however, no amenities or gentleness can ease their jittery feelings. For those patients, Dr. Michalski offers sedation dentistry, also known as oral sedation, conscious sedation, or sleep dentistry.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry, or oral conscious sedation, is an effective, extremely safe, and modern technique of anesthesia through the use of oral medications (pills) or intravenous drugs. Which particular method used for an individual patient depends on several factors, including the necessary treatment and their level of anxiety. With sedation, your memory, anxiety levels, and perception of pain are greatly reduced, and you become very relaxed and comfortable during your dental care. Most people having oral conscious sedation think they have been asleep because they cannot remember anything that went on from the time the sedation was started to the time they left the office.
Who is a candidate for sedation dentistry?
Any reasonably healthy person can have sedation dentistry with ANY procedure, including teeth cleanings, implant dentistry, oral surgery, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, cosmetic dentistry, or any other dental treatment available at our office.
If you meet any of the following criteria, you may consider exploring sedation dentistry with Dr. Michalski:
- High fear about dentistry
- Negative dental experiences in the past
- Difficulty getting numb
- A bad gag reflex
- Very sensitive teeth
- Complex dental problems
- Limited time to complete care
- Embarrassment about your teeth
- Hate shots and needles
- Hate noises and smells of dental office
How will I feel during and after sedation dentistry?
Essentially you are awake, but you will remember very little and feel no discomfort. What you do recall will not be unpleasant. For example, most people do not recall or feel any part of the dental procedures performed under sedation, including numbing the teeth. When your visit is over, the effects of the sedatives may last for several hours and you may be groggy most of the day; however, the sedatives will not make you sick to your stomach. As an effective way to reduce the fear and anxiety many people feel at the dentist's office, sedation dentistry has calmed many of our patients for their treatment.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Yes, but it is very important that you let us know about any and all medications you are taking (including alcohol) and any medical problems that you may have had so that the sedation procedure can be altered to reflect your special needs. For some, a consultation with your physician will be helpful in preventing unanticipated problems. Dr. Michalski and his team have been administering sedation dentistry with great success for over six years.
Your Personal Invitation
Call our Rocky Hill, Connecticut dental office to reserve your exceptional dental care experience with Dr. Michalski. Convenient to Hartford, Wethersfield, Cromwell, Newington, and Berlin, we provide top-quality dentistry in a patient- and environmentally-friendly atmosphere.
