Sedation and Sleep Dentistry in Midtown Manhattan, NYC

Do You Have Dental Phobia? In Midtown Manhattan, NYC We Can Help

Sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry we perform Sedation and Sleep Dentistry in Midtown Manhattan, NYC office can be helpful for people who feel anxiety or stress when receiving dental treatment. It is a good solution for anyone who previously felt too anxious or nervous to visit a dentist or who has a dental phobia. Sleep or sedation dentistry can be helpful for anyone who requires an extensive amount of treatment, as it enables us to complete more work during a single appointment than might be comfortable under a local anesthetic. We might also suggest sedation dentistry for anyone with a strong gag reflex, or for someone who has a low pain threshold.

Dental phobia or fear is very common, and it is estimated around 30% of the population will avoid going to the dentist due to fear. If this is a problem for you, please let our friendly dental team know so we can suggest the best way to comfortably treat you.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses sedatives to help provide a calm and relaxed state. Sedation dentistry is sometimes referred to as being sleep dentistry, but this is not entirely true. Although patients feel completely relaxed with sedation dentistry, they are still awake or easily wakened, and are aware of their surroundings and can communicate with our dental team. Afterwards they are likely to remember very little, if anything about the procedure. The only exception would be someone who receives a general anaesthetic. There are different levels of sedation, and these include:

• Minimal sedation where you feel very relaxed but fully awake
• Moderate sedation or conscious sedation where you remember very little about the procedure
• Deep sedation where you feel extremely sleepy but can still be awakened during treatment

The sedatives can be administered in several different ways, depending on the level of sedation required. Different sedatives that might be used include:

• Inhaled sedation through breathing in nitrous oxide which is best known as laughing gas. The nitrous oxide is combined with oxygen through a mask that covers your nose. The gas takes effect extremely quickly and helps you relax. Once the mask is removed, the sedation wears off within just a few minutes, and this is the only form of sedation where you will be able to drive yourself home afterwards.
• Oral sedation can be mild to moderate. Milder oral sedation is usually given in the form of a pill taken an hour or so before the procedure. Although the pill will make you feel drowsy, you will still be awake. A larger dose can be given during the procedure to produce a more moderate level of sedation. Some people may find they become quite groggy and will even fall asleep during the procedure but can generally be easily awakened.
• Intravenous sedation is given through a vein and works quite quickly. We can adjust the level of sedation continuously throughout treatment.

Sedation dentistry will help you feel more relaxed during treatment, but you’re still likely to need a local anaesthetic which can be given after the sedative has taken effect.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

All types of anesthetic carry a very small risk, and we will need to know your medical history beforehand. Some people, particularly those who are obese or who have obstructive sleep apnea may be more likely to have complications from anesthesia. Your vital signs will be monitored continually during the procedure, and we take every precaution to keep patients safe.