Modern Periodontal Care Designed for Comfort
Today more than ever, patients are aware of the importance of periodontal health and the potential consequences of untreated disease. Despite this increased awareness, patient anxiety and fear concerning treatment can sometimes get in the way of optimal periodontal care. In addition to new treatment options that use refined techniques and improvements in local anesthesia, mild or moderate sedation is available to make your treatment more pleasant and comfortable. This important option has eased the minds of many periodontal patients, and unlocked the benefits of periodontal treatment for those who would have otherwise avoided it.
General Anesthesia
Our board-certified periodontists have completed the necessary training required by the American Board of Periodontology to administer general anesthesia in our practices. To achieve the highest level of safety oral comfort for our patients, we utilize a Board certified anesthesiologist for general ambulatory anesthesia in our state certified surgical facility.
Intravenous Sedation (“Twilight Sedation”)
Our office offers our patients the option of Intravenous Sedation or Dental Intravenous Anesthesia or to some it is referred to as “Twilight Sedation” for their dental treatment. Intravenous Sedation or “twilight sleep” helps you to be comfortable and calm when undergoing dental procedures. Your treatment can be completed under intravenous sedation. Intravenous sedation or “IV sedation” (twilight sedation) is designed to better enable you to undergo your dental procedures while you are very relaxed; it will enable you to tolerate as well as not remember those procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you. IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with your treatment. You may not always be asleep but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep – a “twilight sleep”.
If you choose the option of intravenous sedation your IV sedation/anesthesia is administered and monitored by the doctor therefore eliminating the costly expense of having your treatment carried out in an operating room or same day surgical facility.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Nitrous Oxide is a sweet smelling, non irritating, colorless gas which you can breathe. 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. Patients are able to breathe on their own and remain in control of all bodily functions. The patient may experience mild amnesia and may fall asleep not remembering all of what happened during their appointment.