Sedation Dentistry

Experience anxiety-free dental care with Sedation Dentistry at Velux Dental. Relax comfortably as our expert team ensures your treatment is painless and stress-free. Your comfort is our priority.

Discover Anxiety-Free Dental Care at Velux Dental

Avoiding the dentist due to anxiety or fear is incredibly common. Putting off necessary dental care often leads to more complex and expensive interventions later on to treat issues like tooth decay, gum infection, and tooth loss. Our Salt Lake City, UT, dentist, Dr. Robert Palmer, offers sedation dentistry to patients struggling with mild to extreme dental anxiety.

A smiling woman sitting in a dental chair.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves using medication to induce varying levels of relaxation before and during dental procedures. This treatment allows Dr. Palmer to complete treatments while patients experience little to no anxiety or discomfort.

The level of sedation ranges from minimal to moderate to make you drowsy and easily relaxed. You’ll remain conscious enough to respond to questions and requests so Dr. Palmer can watch your condition throughout the procedures.

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Sedation Dentistry Services

Inhaled Sedation

Also known as laughing gas, this sedation method involves inhaling a mixture of oxygen and gas to produce a calm, euphoric sensation. Though you’ll remain fully conscious, you may feel like you’re floating while any feelings of fear or anxiety fade away.

Oral Conscious Sedation

For more extensive treatments like wisdom tooth extractions, root canals, or dental implants, Dr. Palmer may prescribe oral sedation. After taking the pill at home before your appointment, the oral sedation will make you drowsy but still conscious and able to follow requests.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

From cavities to root canals, sedation dentistry makes virtually any oral health procedure possible with zero discomfort or memories of fear. Specific benefits include:

Complete Relaxation

Oral sedatives and inhaled sedation are deeply relaxing before, during, and after procedures. This allows for a positive experience rather than enduring distress.

Accurate Treatment

A calm state means Dr. Palmer can carry out procedures with precision rather than struggling against patient movement due to discomfort.

Amnesia

Many patients have little to no memory of their procedures thanks to the short-term amnesiac effects of sedation.

Faster Healing

Relaxed patients avoid trauma that leads to delayed healing. Relaxation also aligns well with a healthy immune system.

Prevention

Sedation dentistry allows regular visits to maintain oral health rather than emergency trips for infection or tooth loss due to phobia-induced avoidance.

Symptoms of Dental Anxiety

Do any of these dental anxiety symptoms seem familiar? Recognizing these signs means sedation dentistry may help you:

Avoiding the dentist for years due to fear
Canceling or not showing up to appointments
Feeling extremely restless, tense, or frightened in the waiting room
Breaking out in a sweat or crying when it’s time for the dentist
Experiencing a racing heart, nausea, vomiting, or faintness
Requiring multiple reminders to open wide or difficulty doing so due to anxiety

Post-Sedation Dentistry Guide

Be sure to follow Dr. Palmer’s instructions for smooth healing:

Transportation: For safe travels home.
Rest: Take it easy the rest of the day.
Hydration: Drink extra fluids.
Medication: Complete any prescribed medication.
Food: Start with soft foods, then return to a normal diet.
Activity: Avoid operating vehicles or machinery for 24 hours.

Call our Salt Lake City office with concerns like bleeding or nausea and schedule a follow-up visit.

If untreated, dental phobias lead to poor oral health and a greater risk of decay, infection, and tooth loss. The good news? Sedation dentistry offers a compassionate, judgment-free solution.

The Sedation Dentistry Process at Velux Dental

Hre’s what to expect at your appointment with Dr. Palmer:

Pre-Appointment

Before your scheduled visit, avoid eating or drinking for six to 12 hours as directed to prevent nausea. Arrange transportation because dental sedation inhibits your motor skills.

Initial Exam

Dr. Palmer meets with you, explains proposed dental procedures, answers questions, reviews medical history, and takes baseline vitals like blood pressure. This is also a perfect time to ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have.

Sedation

If you opt for oral sedation, you’ll take the pill per Dr. Palmer’s instructions. For inhaled sedation, a small breathing mask gets gently placed over your nose 10 minutes before procedures begin.

Treatment

As the sedative takes effect, Dr. Palmer checks to ensure you are fully relaxed before starting dental treatments while monitoring your pulse, oxygen saturation, and other vitals. Scented oxygen keeps you comfortable.

Recover

Once dental treatments finish, you’ll move to a relaxation area while the sedative wears off fully. Dr. Palmer or a team member reviews post-sedation instructions with your transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How safe is sedation dentistry?

Your sedation dentist’s top priority is each patient’s safety and comfort. Modern sedative medications plus monitoring equipment can lower risks. Healthy patients sedated under trained supervision have low sedation complication rates

Does insurance cover sedation dentistry?

Most insurance plans cover varying sedation dentistry costs, especially for impacted wisdom teeth removal or extensive treatments. Connect with your benefits provider to find out specifics on copays, coinsurance rates, maximums, and preauthorization requirements for sedation codes.

Does sedation dentistry help sensitive gag reflexes?

Yes, dental sedation can help patients feel more comfortable and reduce their gag reflex sensitivity. Excessive gag reflexes compound dental anxiety, and using sedation helps suppress the feeling.

Should I have a driver after sedation?

Yes, you must arrange transportation to and from appointments involving any level of sedation due to impaired motor skills that make driving unsafe as the sedative wears off. Lyft, Uber, or a trusted friend/family member are great options for rides.