Sedation Dentist in Fort Lauderdale and Lauderdale by the Sea

What is sedation dentistry?

Do you have dental work that you need to complete but are too anxious to sit through your procedure? Have you ever wondered "Is there a sedation dentist near me?" The answer is YES! Your Fort Lauderdale sedation dentist uses various medicines to help you relax during dental procedures.  Sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," sedation dentistry allows you to relax enough to receive necessary dental care. The types of sedation used in dentistry include:

• Inhaled minimal sedation. You inhale nitrous oxide (laughing gas) combined with oxygen through a mask  placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist  in Fort Lauderdale can control the amount of sedation you receive. The gas tends to wear off quickly. Nitrous oxide will be completely gone from a patient’s body within five minutes after the gas is discontinued. This allows a patient to drive  themselves home without a companion.
• Oral sedation. Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For this type of sedation, you take a pill about an hour before your appointment. Typically, the pill is a type of Benzodiazepine such as Valium, Xanax, or Halcion. The pill will make you drowsy and relaxed. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation.  Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake. 
• IV sedation. During IV sedation, an anti-anxiety drug is administered into the blood system while treatment is completed. This route of administering medication is more efficient and achieves a deeper level of relaxation. Additionally, IV sedation allows a more precise amount of anesthesia to be administered which makes it safer than oral sedation options. Because medications are delivered directly to the bloodstream, IV sedation not only produces sedation quickly but also allows patients to recover from sedation quickly.
• Deep sedation and general anesthesia. Medications are administered that will make you either almost unconscious or totally unconscious. While you are under general anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication. General anesthesia requires additional support for breathing, and an anesthesiologist is required to monitor all vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse.