Comfort Dentistry

Nitrous Oxide

If you or your child needs a little help relaxing before receiving dental treatment, nitrous oxide – sometimes called “laughing gas” – is a safe and easy solution. A blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen will be given to you or to your child via a small breathing mask that is placed over the nose. You or your child will feel relaxed but will not sleep, and will be able to respond to the dental team. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes nitrous oxide as a safe aid for helping patients receive the dental care they need. Its effects wear off quickly with normal breathing, and it is non-addictive.

Conscious Sedation

If you are moderately apprehensive, or if you have a child who is very young, is unusually apprehensive, or has special needs, then conscious sedation may allow you or your child to more easily receive the dental care needed. It will calm you and will reduce the anxiety or discomfort associated with dental treatments. You or your child may be quite drowsy, and may even fall asleep, but will not become unconscious.

There are a variety of different medications that can be used for conscious sedation for you or for your child. Your dentist will prescribe the medication best suited for your overall health and dental treatment recommendations. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have concerning the specific drugs we plan to give to you or to your child.

IM/IV Sedation

You can be perfectly relaxed during your trip to the dentist, even while undergoing treatment!  For the fastest and most dramatic results, Antlers Family Dentistry offers IM and/or IV sedation dentistry. Safe for adults, teens and children, this treatment is designed to relax you and make you more comfortable for complicated dental procedures.  This method allows you to become relaxed at a much faster rate than with other sedation methods.

Dr. Pamela Wilson and the Antlers Family Dentistry team are very experienced in these techniques.  Should you choose IM/IV sedation, they will be sure to create a comfortable experience for you.

Hospital Dentistry

Outpatient general anesthesia is recommended for extremely apprehensive patients, for very young children, and for children with special needs that require more than conscious sedation. General anesthesia renders the patient completely asleep, as if he or she was having their tonsils removed, an ear tube inserted, or a hernia repaired. If general anesthesia is suggested for you or for your child, treatment this way greatly benefit your child by reducing the number of dental appointments along with many other factors. Be sure to ask for more information of hospital sedation dentistry with Antlers Family Dentist.