Sedation Dentistry in Raleigh

Sedation dentistry is designed to provide a pain-free dental experience. While you may still feel some pressure or movement, the sensation of pain is significantly reduced or completely eliminated. Different levels of sedation can be used depending on the procedure and your personal comfort level. Local anesthesia is often used in conjunction with sedation to numb the specific area where our Raleigh dentist will be working. This combination ensures that you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.

During dental sedation, medication is used to help patients relax during dental procedures. The level of sedation can vary from minimal, where you're awake but relaxed, to general anesthesia, where you're completely unconscious. Depending on the type of sedation, the medication may be inhaled, taken orally, or administered intravenously. Throughout the procedure, your vital signs will be closely monitored to ensure your safety. It's important to note that even with sedation, a local anesthetic is usually still used to numb the area being treated.

The length of a sedation procedure can vary greatly depending on the type of dental work being done. Simple procedures may only take a few minutes, while more complex treatments could take several hours. However, one of the benefits of sedation dentistry is that it can make time seem to pass more quickly. Many patients feel as though their procedure lasted only a few minutes, even if it was actually several hours.

The length of time that dental sedation stays in your system depends on the type of sedation used. Light sedation methods like nitrous oxide (laughing gas) wear off quickly, often within a few minutes after the gas is stopped. Oral sedatives and IV sedation have a longer-lasting effect, and you may feel drowsy for several hours after your procedure. It's important to have someone available to drive you home after these types of sedation.