For Fort St. John patients who are anxious about visiting the dentist and undergoing any type of oral surgery procedure, we recommend considering our sedation options.
Understanding Dental Sedation Services
Sedation can help you relax during dental procedures so you can get dental care when you need it. At Fort St. John Dental Clinic, we are licensed to administer oral sedation through the Doctors of Conscious Sedation (DOCS), which is an educational program that trains dental professionals to the best way to care for anxious and fearful patients using mild sedation.
Dental Anxiety
If you get anxious about visiting the dentist, you're not alone. Often, even those who visit the dentist on a regular basis still feel anxious about it.
We may recommend oral conscious sedation for patients who are significantly nervous about dental procedures, those who need complex treatment, those who have time constraints, or those have a severe gag reflex.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral sedatives are pills or liquid prescribed by your dentist and taken orally.
An initial dose is usually taken about one hour before your dental appointment. Treatment may include a dose on the night proceeding the procedure to mitigate anxiety-related insomnia.
During your treatment, you will remain awake and responsive, and you won't feel any pain.
Is sedation dentistry right for you?
If any of the following apply to you, we recommend you talk to us about sedation:
- High anxiety about dental treatment
- Difficulty getting numb with local anaesthetic
- Sensitivity to touch, smells, sights and sounds
- Very sensitive teeth
- Fear of needles or pain
- Strong gag reflex
- TMJ issues - difficulty opening mouth