Sedation Dentistry  Sedation Dentistry, or "Sleep" Dentistry, is able to reach out and provide needed dental care to those who otherwise would not receive it. Dr. Chowning, along with key members of the dental team, received extensive training from the world's leading Sedation Dentistry specialists. We recognize that there are many reasons why 50% of the U.S. population do not receive dental care, but two of the most common reasons are: Extreme anxiety No time for multiple appointments What is Sedation Dentistry? Sedation Dentistry bridges the gap between new technology and patient comfort. At your consultation appointment, your sedation method will be determined. We offer several levels of sedation. The mildest form of sedation is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. This offers a very mild relaxation to the patient while keeping them fully conscious. The second method is oral sedation. With oral sedation you will be given some small pills to take before your appointment. The third method of sedation that we offer is I.V. sedation similar to what people receive when getting their wisdom teeth removed. This offers the greatest level of sedation. With both oral sedation and IV sedation you should have little or no memory of the appointment. You should not even remember any sounds or smells. With Sedation Dentistry, you will find that your treatment is performed more comfortably than you might ever have thought possible. You will be drowsy and unaware of the time passing by. During the entire appointment you will be monitored continually by our specially trained team of professionals. Am I a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry? Sedation Dentistry is especially useful for adult patients who: Have high anxiety about dental visits Have had traumatic dental experiences in the past Have difficulty getting numb Have a strong gag reflex Have TMJ troubles and cannot open their mouth for extended periods Are afraid of needles Have sensitive teeth Hate the noises and/or smells associated with dental care Simply do not have the time for multiple visits Sedation Dentistry is only for adult patients. Your dentist will schedule a consultation appointment first to answer any questions and screen for any medical reasons you may not be eligible for Sedation Dentistry. What to Expect at a Sedation Dentistry Appointment. You will take a small pill approximately 1 hour prior to arriving at our office. You will need to have a companion drive you to the office since you will not be able to drive yourself. By the time you arrive at the office, you will feel very drowsy. You will be escorted by our staff to a comfortable chair and our monitors will be placed. These monitors allows us to follow your vital signs during the entire procedure. When you are snoozing comfortably, Dr. Chowning will begin your dental care. When Dr. Chowning is finished with your treatment, your companion will drive you home. You probably will not even remember being at our office. Some material on this page © Copyright 2000-2005 Dental WebSmith, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Content used by permission.