Periodontics treatment under sedation or sleep dentistry
What is Periodontal Sedation?
Periodontal surgeries can be long, complicated and can provide a great deal of dental anxiety. At our dental office, we provide periodontal sedation for patients in the nearby areas. Periodontal surgeries would include:
Gum Graft surgery: Gum grafting involves carefully placing a small amount of new tissue in an area where little or no gum tissue currently exists
Gum Lift surgery: A gum lift is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that
creates an even gum line. Patients with gummy smiles can have excessive gum tissue removed, exposing more tooth, and improving the appearance of their smiles.
Bone regeneration: Bone regeneration is a periodontal surgical procedure that regenerates jaw bone and tissue in order to correct the damage caused by periodontal disease.
Osseous surgery, or flap surgery: usually performed when a pocket around a tooth (or teeth) has not responded to other treatments. A periodontal pocket reduction procedure has been recommended because you have pockets that are too deep to clean with daily at-home oral hygiene and a professional care routine.
Dental Crown Lengthening: Crown lengthening is a procedure that involves trimming the gum tissue and often recontouring the bone. This is used to crown a broken/decayed tooth, to improve the health of the gum tissue, or to improve the esthetic look of a tooth as when we correct a “gummy smile.”
Scaling And Root Planing: Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective, non-surgical ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe. Scaling is basically the process of removing dental tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. Root planing is the process of smoothing out the root surfaces and removing any infected tooth structure.
What Different Types of Sedation Are Available?
There are three types of sedation available for periodontal treatment: oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation. Our periodontist sedation experts have undergone extensive training and are qualified to perform oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide—and they collaborate with dental anesthesiologists to provide IV sedation in the event a greater degree of sedation is required. Each of these options is described below.
Oral Conscious Sedation : Oral conscious sedation involves the digestion of a swallowable pill approximately one hour prior to the start of treatment. Once the sedation takes effect, you will be in a state of complete relaxation for your procedure—and you may even fall asleep. Afterwards, you will likely have little to no recollection of treatment, which many patients consider to be a benefit.
Nitrous Oxide : Nitrous oxide—commonly called “laughing gas”—is inhaled through a chairside mask, resulting in an immediate calming effect. You will be awake and coherent during treatment, though you will feel much more relaxed than normal. Depending on your needs and desires, nitrous oxide can be used alone or in combination with oral conscious sedation.
IV Sedation : IV sedation is injected directly into the bloodstream by a dental anesthesiologist. Once administered, the effects are immediate, enabling you to achieve deep relaxation—sometimes referred to as a conscious “twilight” state. Many patients are so relaxed with IV sedation that they drift off and sleep peacefully throughout treatment. Similar to oral conscious sedation, you will likely have minimal to no memory of your procedure.
At the time of your consultation, perio sedation experts will thoroughly examine your dental and medical history, address any questions or concerns you have, and help you select the most appropriate sedation option for your specific case. Our goal is to ensure you are completely comfortable and carefree during your periodontal treatment.
Schedule an Appointment with our Sedation Periodontist Experts
If you are in need of periodontal treatment and feel sedation periodontics could be beneficial for you, please reach out to our practice online or by phone today to book an appointment. We are happy to help you receive the oral care you need in a state of complete relaxation!