Nitrous Oxide

Sedation dentistry allows for comfortable and stress-free dental procedures. At Los Feliz Dental Center, top-rated dentists Brian Shahangian, DDS, Bita Shahangian, DDS, and the skilled team offer sedation dentistry in the Loz Feliz, Los Angeles, California, office for patient convenience. With advanced sedation techniques, cozy blankets and pillows, and personal headphones and tv monitors, the practice has everything you need for a comfortable and stress-free procedure. Call the office or book your appointment online today. 

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is dental care performed while patients are in a state of deep relaxation. This approach to dentistry makes it easy to maintain your oral health without stress or anxiety. 

What are the types of sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry options include:

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the most common method of sedation dentistry. With this method, you’ll breathe in an odorless gas through a nose mask. It starts working within moments, and you’ll feel relaxed and calm.

You’re awake during the procedure and can respond to the dentist but won’t feel stress or discomfort. The team may also administer local anesthesia to numb pain for procedures like fillings and root canals. 

Nitrous oxide wears off quickly. When the procedure’s over, your dentist removes the nose mask, and you’ll feel normal right away. Many people can’t remember the dental procedure afterward. You can drive and return to your regular activities immediately with nitrous oxide sedation.

Oral sedation

For oral sedation, you’ll take one or more prescription medications before your procedure. The drugs prescribed for oral sedation cause relaxation and drowsiness. As with nitrous oxide sedation, you’ll be awake but may doze lightly through the procedure. 

Oral sedation has lingering effects, so you can’t drive yourself home. Have a driver bring you to the appointment and take you home. Generally, you’ll need to rest after an oral sedation appointment, but the effects wear off by the next morning. 

Intravenous (IV) sedation

IV sedation delivers a relaxing medication through an IV in an arm vein. With IV sedation, you’ll sleep throughout the procedure. In general, IV sedation is only for more complex procedures. 

The team monitors you closely throughout the procedure. You can’t drive after IV sedation, so you should arrange for a loved one to take you home. Many patients don’t recall the procedure afterward.

Who is a candidate for sedation dentistry? 

Most people who need fillings, root canals, or other dental procedures undergo sedation dentistry because it makes the procedure far less stressful and considerably more comfortable. If you have severe dental anxiety, you could need sedation for teeth cleanings as well. 

Los Feliz Dental Center also furnishes blankets, pillows, personal headphones, and a personal television monitor for every patient to maximize relaxation. 

Book your sedation dentistry appointment by calling the Los Feliz Dental Center office or clicking the online scheduler now.