Sedation Dentist in Seattle

Do you have dental anxiety? We've Got you covered!

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The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

How green leaf Dental Can help

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With laughing gas, you can stay awake during treatment, but still feel calm and stress-free
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Oral conscious sedation has similar effects to laughing gas, but can be taken in either pill or syrup form
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We offer deep sedation options for extensive treatment or cases of extreme dental phobia

What kinds of Dental Sedation options do you offer?

Our dentists in Seattle are gentle and friendly, our staff is welcoming and accommodating, and we offer a variety of sedation options for patients with any level of anxiety. For patients with mild discomfort, we can accommodate your needs with:

  • Laughing Gas - Ingested through inhalation
  • Oral conscious sedation - Ingested in pill form
For more extreme cases of dental phobia or for extensive treatments, we offer IV sedation and/or general anesthesia to keep you calm and comfortable. Learn more about these options below and call today to learn more about which option is right for you.

What is laughing gas and how is it used during treatment?

If you experience anxiety and dental phobia, our dentists use Nitrous Oxide, commonly referred to as “laughing gas”, to keep you safe and calm. When Nitrous Oxide takes effect, it gives the patient a feeling of euphoria and relaxation. You’ll be awake during your procedure, but you’ll feel calm and stress-free throughout treatment. Another benefit of nitrous sedation is that the effects are short in duration. That way, you can enjoy the rest of your day as you normally would.

What is oral conscious sedation?

Mild to moderate oral conscious sedation is used for patients with moderate dental anxiety, and for those who need longer or more complex procedures. Under this type of sedation, patients feel an extreme sense of relaxation, and they remain conscious during their treatment. This is an extremely common form of sedation dentistry and is administered in pill form, so no needles are required to administer the sedative. Because it's ingested in pill form, the effects take a few hours to wear off and patients should arrange for a ride home after their treatment with oral conscious sedation.

Is IV SeDATION RIGHT FOR ME?

IV sedation is typically reserved for patients with extreme anxiety, undergoing long procedures or have physical or mental handicaps that prevent them from being able to receive treatment while they are awake. Under IV sedation, you will be incredibly relaxed and won't have any recollection of the procedure. This form of sedation is This form of sedation is administered intravenously, or through the vein.

Patients receiving deep sedation go between consciousness and unconsciousness during their dental treatment. Under deep sedation, you will not be able to respond to commands even if you are awake. When your treatment is complete, you may have no recollection of your procedure. If you are interested in a painless, stress-free procedure, give us a call today.

What is General Anesthesia?

General anesthesia uses a combination of inhaled and intravenous sedatives to make patients completely unconscious during treatment. With general anesthesia, you’ll be unable to respond or feel any pain during your procedure. This means that you won’t have any painful memories of your procedure. You’re in good hands with Dr. Bean, and he has years of experience giving patients safe, high quality anesthetic care. Contact us today to learn more.

How Long Will It Take For the Sedation to Wear Off?

This depends on the type of sedation that is administered. At Green Leaf Dental, we offer four different sedative options, ranging from minimal to deep sedation. The milder the sedation, the quicker it wears off.

Our mildest sedative is nitrous oxide (laughing gas) which wears off within a few minutes of removing the nasal mask that administers the sedative through your nose. This sedative is unique in that the body completely metabolizes it so that there are no lingering side effects.

You will be able to return to normal activities directly after your appointment. This is the only sedative that completely wears off right away and enables patients to drive home. With deeper sedation, such as oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, you may notice very apparent effects for 2 to 8 hours following your appointment.

However, the sedative will linger in the body for up to 24 hours and can cause hangover symptoms like drowsiness so you will need to go home and rest and have someone monitor you for the rest of the day. For the next 24 hours, you cannot drive, drink alcohol, or sign legal documents.

Are There Any Side Effects of Laughing Gas?

Laughing gas is our mildest and safest sedative. While it does carry the risk of very minor side effects, these are rare and usually only occur when patients don’t follow instructions like the recommended fasting period before receiving the sedative.

The most common side effects of laughing gas include headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Patients are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting if they eat right before receiving nitrous oxide. This is why we tell patients to fast for 2 hours. Patients may also feel dizzy, shiver, or sweat excessively. These side effects are rare and mild.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

As long as you are going to a professional, qualified dentist, then you are in good hands. Dental sedation is very safe when administered by an experienced, trained, and certified professional. They will review your medical history to determine if there are any risks in administering a certain sedative due to a medical condition or certain medications that you take.

Dr. Yoni or Dr. Bean will monitor your vitals such as your breathing and heart rate to ensure that you’re safe the entire time. With laughing gas or IV sedation, we can easily adjust the levels of the sedative according to your needs. When you receive general anesthesia, it is in a hospital setting and your breathing is assisted.

Extensive precautions are taken to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible. We will never recommend sedation to any patient who is not considered a good candidate and we are more than happy to answer all of your sedation-related questions.

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