Sedation Dentistry
Types of Dental Sedation Dr. Ban offers:
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a form of sedation by which you will be asleep for the entire procedure. It is practiced using inhalation of a gaseous anesthetic. A thorough recovery time in the office may be required before leaving.
Nitrous
Probably the most common form of sedation in the dental office is nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas.” Nitrous oxide does not put you to sleep and is effective at reducing your anxiety about a dental procedure.
It is very safe and provided in most dental offices. Local injections of anesthesia, which are still used in combination with nitrous oxide, now see consistent effectiveness, and some are practically painless. Nonetheless, the gas can be administered by a machine to further reduce the discomfort of the injection.
Nitrous Oxide has been the primary means of sedation in dentistry for many years. Nitrous oxide is safe, the patient receives 50-70% oxygen with no less than 30% nitrous oxide.
Training and Licensure
Although most dentists are qualified to administer nitrous oxide, other types of sedation require additional training, equipment and emergency supplies. And because the vast majority of the U.S. requires that the dentist have a sedation license to perform these techniques. For this reason, some may choose to contract qualified physicians or dentists to come to their office to perform sedation for their patients.
Dr. Ban and Dr. Alexander Targ currently work together to perform general anesthesia. He is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist.
For further information and questions, please feel free to call us at (408)252-5678, or you can e-mail Dr. Ban directly at [email protected].