Sedation

Relaxing Dental Experience  

At Pristine Dental, part of our exceptional service is helping you relax and rest easy during your appointment. If the idea of visiting the dentist makes you or your family members feel nervous or anxious, we can help!  By working with you and learning about your individual experiences and needs, we create a personalized sedation plan to help you settle in while we perform your dental treatment.  

Are You a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?  

All patients who experience dental anxiety may benefit from our personalized approach to sedation. We will educate you on your sedation options and tell you what to expect before, during, and after your visit. If you or your family members have any of the following fears or concerns, please ask our team about sedation dentistry:  

• Are afraid of needles and/or shots  

• Experienced a traumatic dental visit in the past  

• Struggle with the smells or sounds of being at the dentist

• Have overly sensitive teeth, a strong gag reflex, or trouble getting numb  

• Require a more complex dental treatment  

• Feel self-conscious about your teeth  

• Desire a more comfortable dental treatment  

Personalized Sedation Solutions  

Sedation dentistry plays a foundational role in ensuring a relaxing patient experience. Combined with our knowledgeable dentists and staff, our attention to your needs, and our comfortable dental environment, we can help you experience a calmer and less anxious appointment. We work with each patient to determine the sedation approach that best matches the desires of the patient and the treatment being received.

We offer the following sedation options for a safe, relaxing, world-class treatment experience.  

Nitrous Oxide  

Nitrous oxide sedation, also known as "laughing gas," is commonly used to make treatment more comfortable and is excellent for patients that feel anxious in the dental chair. Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask and provides a state of relaxation throughout treatment. This simple sedation method offers the least amount of risk, and any side effects vanish as soon as the mask comes off. Once treatment is over, the nitrous oxide quickly leaves the system, which means a short recovery time!  

IV Sedation  

This more advanced form of sedation allows patients to experience ease and comfort throughout the entire dental procedure. It is administered via an IV placed in your arm by one of our sedation professionals. You will remain unconscious throughout the treatment, thereby preventing dental chair anxiety. Throughout your procedure, you will wear an oxygen mask to ensure proper breathing and we will closely monitor your vital signs while you rest easy. The side effects of this type of sedation may take several hours to fully wear off.  

Oral Sedation  

For patients who may be uncomfortable with Nitrous Oxide or IV Sedation, we also offer sedation that is taken orally in the form of a pill. We will provide a prescription medication that will make you feel drowsy and relaxed. In some cases, patients even fall asleep during the procedure. After the treatment is completed, it may take the rest of the day for the sedation effects to wear off.  

Is sedation dentistry safe?  

Administered by trained professionals, sedation dentistry has been proven to be safe and effective for dental treatment. For patients who experience dental anxiety, symptoms such as high blood pressure can result while at the dentist. With sedation, studies show that treatment becomes safer by reducing blood pressure during the procedure.  

How long will it take for the sedation to wear off?  

Recovery time from sedation is dependent upon the method used. Because sedation causes drowsiness, we always recommend that you arrange transportation to and from your treatment. After sedation, you should not drive, drink alcohol, or operate machinery.