Sedation Dentistry in La Jolla, CA

At Harmony Dental Group, our La Jolla dentist understands that many patients may feel anxious or nervous about their upcoming dental treatment. Especially if they require longer procedures or have had bad experiences in the past. That’s why we offer in-house sedation dentistry as an option to help you feel relaxed and comfortable during your care.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

There are dozens of different types of oral surgeries that dentists, oral surgeons, or similar specialists may offer. Some of the most common types of oral surgeries in the La Jolla, CA area include:

• Reduce anxiety and fear
• Allows for multiple procedures in one visit
• Minimizes discomfort
• Provides a more streamlined experience
• Lighter to moderate sedation to fit your comfort level
• Tune out longer or more complex treatments
• Appropriate for all ages and health backgrounds
• Eliminates the need for outside referrals or trips to medical facilities

Why Consider Dental Sedation?

Our La Jolla dentist may suggest adding sedation to your upcoming appointment if you have the following:

A strong gag reflex. Sedation helps reduce the sensitivity of gag reflexes, making it easier to sit through your visit without worrying about something tickling the back of your throat. This can be extremely helpful for anyone who avoids dental visits because of a strong gag reflex.

Very sensitive teeth. Tooth hypersensitivity is more severe for some patients than others. Adding a light sedative to your appointment can help improve your comfort level, even if it’s something as simple as a professional cleaning.

Dental phobia or anxiety. Negative past experiences can often stand in the way of the dental care we need. If you feel even the slightest bit of dental anxiety, we recommend adding sedation to your upcoming appointment. Even people who do not suffer from dental phobia tend to prefer the added level of sedation for more complex procedures. We often find that completing treatment with the help of sedation reduces the anxiety someone experiences during their future visits with us.

A complex treatment plan. When someone requires multiple lengthy procedures or more complex restorations, it’s usually ideal for breaking their treatments up into shorter appointments. But with sedation, we’re able to plan multiple phases of care during a single visit, reducing the number of trips you make to our La Jolla dental office.

Types of Sedation

Depending on the type of procedure scheduled, your age, and your medical background, our dentist may recommend one of the following types of sedation:

Laughing Gas (Inhalation Sedation): Nitrous oxide is a light sedative that provides analgesic properties while you remain fully conscious throughout your appointment. Laughing gas is delivered through a soft nosepiece that you breathe in and out of during your appointment. Numbing medication is still used to ensure complete comfort.

Although you’re awake throughout your visit, you likely won’t care as much about what’s going on during the procedure. Nitrous oxide is safe and effective for all ages and can be added to almost any appointment.

Nitrous sedation is completely reversible, so it’s safe enough to drive yourself home afterward.

Oral Sedation: This moderate level of sedation allows you to feel almost like you’re taking a light nap during your visit. However, you’ll still be conscious enough to answer simple questions or directions. The medication is taken by mouth before the appointment and lasts for a few hours before it wears off. Most people remember little to nothing about their appointment. 

IV Sedation: Intravenous sedation is administered through an IV line for longer or more complex procedures, such as wisdom tooth removal or placing multiple dental implants. This medication makes it feel like you’re sleeping during your visit, but you will still be semi-conscious. Like oral sedation, IV sedation provides a bit of an amnesic effect, where you may not remember much or anything about your visit.

Your Safety is Our Top Priority

At Harmony Dental Group, we offer safe and comfortable sedation options to ensure that your dental experience is as pleasant as possible. Our team of experienced and highly skilled dental professionals is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality of care and personalized treatment options to help you achieve your ideal smile.

Because sedation dentistry involves the use of specific types of medications, we will want to complete a thorough health history review beforehand. Please be sure to provide us with a list of any medications or supplements that you take, as well as any recent surgeries or hospitalizations.

What to Expect

Planning for a sedation dentistry appointment involves a few important steps to ensure a safe and successful procedure. Before your appointment, you will have a consultation with our dentist to discuss your medical history, medications, and any allergies you may have. It is important that you inform us of any changes in your health before the procedure. Our La Jolla dentist will also explain the type of sedation that is recommended, the length of the procedure, and any other relevant information. You will also be given instructions on preparing for your appointment, including when to stop eating and drinking before the procedure.

After the sedation dentistry procedure, you will need to have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours unless you’re using nitrous oxide, which is 100% reversible within the first 10-15 minutes after your procedure. The effects of deeper types of sedation can last for several hours, so it is important that you do not drive, operate heavy machinery or go back to work during this time. You should also plan to rest and avoid strenuous activities for the rest of the day.

Our sedation dentist will also provide you with post-operative instructions on how to care for yourself after the procedure, depending on which type of treatment is planned that day. You may experience some mild discomfort and swelling, but these symptoms should subside within a few days. If you have any concerns or questions about your recovery, please do not hesitate to contact our office, even if it’s after normal business hours.

“Is Sedation Dentistry Right for Me?

 If you’re interested in learning more about sedation dentistry at Harmony Dental Group and how it can benefit your oral health, contact our La Jolla dentist to schedule a consultation.

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Questions Answered on This Page

• Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
• Why Consider Dental Sedation?
• Types of Sedation
• Your Safety is Our Top Priority
• What to Expect

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Helpful links: WebMD (Sedation Dentistry) | ADA (Glossary of Dental Terms)