Sedation

At Drs. Scheetz & Rekos: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Ohio, we understand that any type of oral surgery, no matter how minor, can be scary. We also know that it can be difficult to sit still for more involved procedures for several hours. This is why no matter if you need a wisdom tooth extracted, or you need reconstructive surgery following a facial injury, we offer sedation dentistry.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry allows us to help you feel relaxed and comfortable in the dentist’s chair, whether we need to remove a tooth, perform a graft or set your jawbone. It involves the use of certain techniques, such as inhaled gas or medication. We offer several levels of sedation, depending upon your surgical and comfort needs:

•	Minimal sedation.This is the lightest form of sedation, which keeps you completely conscious, but relaxed.
•	Moderate sedation. The next level above minimal sedation, moderate sedation, is designed to keep you conscious, but you may drift in and out, and may not remember parts, or any, of the procedure.
•	Deep sedation. This sedation keeps you on the brink of consciousness. You may or may not fall asleep.
•	General anesthesia. This is the strongest form of sedation. It is designed to keep you asleep throughout your entire procedure.

Who might benefit from sedation?

With the use of sedation dentistry, you are able to remain relaxed and calm, if not entirely asleep, during your surgical procedure. Sedation may be right for you if:

•	You are very nervous.
•	You have sensitive teeth.
•	Your gag reflex is bad.
•	You have a low pain tolerance.
•	You can't sit still.
•	You need a lot of dental work done, and your surgical procedure will take a few hours.

Types of Sedation

There are a few different types of sedation that we use to meet your specific needs:

•	Nitrous oxide. Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is an inhaled sedative. The gas is mixed with oxygen and administered through a mask placed over your face. Once we remove the mask, the effects wear off quickly.
•	Oral sedatives. As the name suggests, oral sedatives are taken by mouth. You take medication approximately an hour before your procedure, as it takes approximately 30 minutes for the medication to start working.
•	IV sedatives. Intravenous sedatives are administered directly into the bloodstream while you are in the dentist's chair, and go to work quickly. Both deep sedation and general anesthesia are done through an IV.

Are there any side effects?

There are a few side effects to sedation dentistry, but none of them last very long. One of the most common side effects is the inability to recall parts, if any, of your procedure. This is often more of a benefit to most patients. Another common side effect of oral and IV sedatives is temporary grogginess. If you are using any type of sedative, other than nitrous oxide, you will be instructed to arrive at your appointment with someone to drive you home.

No matter if it’s a small surgery and you’re a bit nervous, or your procedure is more involved and will require a couple of hours of work, sedation dentistry will be able to keep you calm and relaxed throughout. Call Drs. Scheetz & Rekos: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Ohio at (614) 734-1504 today to learn more!