Different Types of Sedation at the Dentist

Video Transcript

"There are different forms of sedation available for the patient. The first one we'll talk about is inhalation sedation. It's often referred to as laughing gas or sleeping gas. The purpose of this one is more or less to basically give the patient a little more relaxed state by breathing through a small mask, it's a gas that goes in and out through their nose, and within several minutes you're nice and relaxed. It also helps with pain control, but it is the mildest form of sedation available to the patient. The second one we'll discuss is what's called oral sedation. Oral sedation meaning that you take an oral medication slightly before the appointment to get you in a relaxed state. It too helps with pain control, but is more known to give you a more relaxed state than the laughing gas, and it also lasts longer in your system. The third option that we will discuss is also called IV sedation. IV sedation is being the most invasive of the three, in that we basically start an IV in your arm or your hand, we give you some very strong medications for pain, and swelling, and also amnesia. And that is kind of the ultimate control for getting a patient in a relaxed state so that we can do all sorts of dentistry, pain free and comfortable. There is also another form known as general anesthesia, however general anesthesia is typically accomplished in a hospital based setting, and very few dentists are able to accomplish this."