Sedation for Dentistry

Controlling patient pain and anxiety is a primary concern for Dr. Brian Steele, your Sacramento dentist at Downtown Dentistry. Analgesics, such as novocaine or xylocaine, applied either to surface areas or via injections, usually allow most patients to experience painless dentistry. This form of pain management has the least amount of risk, as the patient remains fully conscious.

For certain procedures or patients, however, it is advisable to use some form of sedation to ensure comfort during treatment. While most clients are familiar with the use of deep sedation or general anesthesia, many of our clients have experienced the satisfaction that comes from conscious or oral sedation. Dr. Steele prefers to employ oral sedation when some form of sedation is needed.

Oral sedation is:

1. Less invasive — there is no need for intravenous injections or artificial breathing,
2. Less expensive than other forms of sedation,
3. Less debilitating — the recovery from oral sedation is usually much quicker than from deep sedation.

Popularly called “sleep dentistry,” conscious or oral sedation at Downtown Dentistry starts by swallowing a pill. Patients breathe independently and respond to verbal commands from the dentist. Although you are conscious, you may recall little of the procedure itself — a side benefit to some!

Any form of sedation can involve risks, but dentistry in general and our office in particular have excellent safety records maintained by following rigorous standards for the use of sedatives. Individual patient physiology and health may affect the results obtained or Dr. Steele’s recommendations for sedation.

At Downtown Dentistry, your Sacramento dental office, rest assured that our first concern is for patient safety and comfort during the use of analgesics and sedatives.