Sedation Dentistry

Apex, Cary, and Raleigh, North Carolina

Imagine undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When your treatment is complete, you have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort you were expecting. We are pleased to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective sedation dentistry.

Patients who benefit from sedation dentistry have:

A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
A strong gag reflex
A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry allows your doctor to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist.

There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:

No memory of undergoing the procedure
No sense of time while under sedation
No sense of smell or sound
No fear or anxiety during treatment

Patients who have undergone a procedure using sedation dentistry will tell you it is a simple, relaxing way to experience dentistry.

I am nervous about being unconscious. What levels of sedation are available to me?

There is no need to be nervous about having sedation dentistry at our practice. We are licensed by the American Dental Association, and you will find that we are both respectful and professional at all times.

Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law, and there are two sedative states at which Dr. Washington can administer your treatment: mild sedation and moderate sedation.

Mild Sedation — Nitrous oxide inhalation (laughing gas) is the lightest form of sedation dentistry and is often used for patients with mild anxiety, longer procedures, or more complex situations. You remain awake or very sleepy throughout the entire procedure, but you will feel a great sense of relaxation. Anxiolysis is another form of mild to moderate sedation that results in relaxation during treatment that is typically taken orally.
Moderate Sedation — Used for patients with moderate dental anxiety and for patients who need longer or more complex procedures, conscious sedation often refers to the use of IV sedation. With conscious sedation, you will remain awake throughout your procedure but will be in a deep state of relaxation. Patients who receive conscious sedation must have a parent, spouse, or friend accompany them to appointments because it can take several hours for the sedative to wear off and driving may be unsafe.

How are sedatives administered?

Inhalation — Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most frequently used method for easing mild to moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick so that you can resume your normal activities immediately.
Intravenous — An extremely common technique for dental sedation is IV sedation. Recovery normally takes a few hours after the procedure. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as well as sit at our office throughout your procedure in case an emergency does arise.

Please contact our practice by calling 919-782-9536 to schedule a consultation or to learn more about sedation dentistry.

Triangle Periodontics welcomes patients of Apex, Cary, and Raleigh, North Carolina.