Cochrane Dental Centre
Your Choice for Cochrane Sedation Dentistry

Are You Nervous or Afraid of Visiting The Dentist?
Have You Been Putting of Getting Crucial Dental Work?
Sedation Dentistry May Be Right For You!

If visiting the dentist makes you anxious, you are not alone. Approximately 75% of Canadians say fear of visiting the dentist prevents them from staying on track with their regular dental hygiene and examinations. At Cochrane Dental Centre, we care about ensuring that you experience complete comfort during your dental visits, which is why we offer Cochrane Sedation Dentistry options!

How is Sedation Dentistry Administered?

At Cochrane Dental Centre, Our Dental Team educates you on the method of sedation based on your individual needs. Various sedative options are used to achieve a relaxed, comfortable and calm state for our patients. The sedatives we utilize range from mild to moderate in their effect and may be administered by our Dental Team in one of three ways:

  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation
  • Oral Medication Sedation
  • IV Sedation

What Sedation Method is Best for Me?

When considering which type of sedation method is right for you, we conduct a thorough examination that includes discussion regarding your past medical history, the current prescription medications you are taking and discuss the risks associated with undisclosed recreational drug use and the method of sedation used for your visit. We suggest that you bring a detailed list of your medical history, including any medications and nutritional supplements you may be taking along with you to your initial consultation.

What are the Benefits of Cochrane Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation Dentistry allows people with dental anxiety or fear of the dentist to regain their confidence in the importance of regular hygiene and periodontal treatments.  A variety of dental services, such as Teeth cleanings and Dental Check-ups, Restorative Treatments, Root Canal Therapy, Dental Implants, and more vital dental services are able to be performed with sedation dentistry. Regular dental care, such as dental hygiene visits are essential when preventing the onset of more complex dental problems. Following a routine care and maintenance schedule helps our patients avoid the very thing they fear — with fewer visits to the dentist!

What are the Benefits of Cochrane Oral Sedation Dentistry?

Oral Sedation Dentistry allows people with dental anxiety or fear of the dentist to regain their confidence in the importance of regular hygiene and periodontal treatments. Routine dental care, such as dental hygiene visits are essential when preventing the onset of more complex dental problems. Following a routine care and maintenance schedule helps our patients avoid the very thing they fear — with fewer visits to the dentist!

Is Oral Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Oral Sedation Dentistry is considered to be very safe. At Cochrane Dental Centre, we ensure the safety of our Oral Sedation Dentistry patients by using monitoring equipment during the procedure, which includes a pulse oximeter and oxygen equipment. Our Dentists are also required to have reversal medication agents on hand in the rare case of an adverse reaction to the sedatives. Patients undergoing sedation dentistry services are required to have a responsible party drive them to and from their appointment and remain with them until the effects of the sedation have passed.

What are the advantages of Cochrane Dental Nitrous Oxide?

Many of our patients feel sufficiently calmed when we administer nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide dental sedation is a great way for our patients to relax during treatment, and when it is properly administered, the effects wear off quickly enough that the patient can drive him — or herself home. Some of the more common advantages include:

  • Nitrous oxide dental sedation works very rapidly — it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes.
  • The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing the person who administers the gas to increase or decrease the depth of sedation. Other sedation techniques don’t allow for this. For example, with IV sedation, it’s easy to deepen the level of sedation, but difficult to lessen it. Whereas with gas, the effects are almost instant.
  • Other sedation techniques have a fixed duration of action (because the effects of pills or intravenous drugs last for a specific time span), whereas gas can be given for the exact time span it’s needed for. It can also be switched off when not needed and then switched on again (though to avoid a roller-coaster effect, you shouldn’t do this too abruptly).
  • There’s no “hangover” effect — the gas is eliminated from the body within 3 to 5 minutes after the gas supply is stopped. You can safely drive home and don’t need an escort.
  • With nitrous oxide, it’s easy to give incremental doses until the desired action is obtained (this is called “titration”). So the administrator has virtually absolute control over the action of the drug, preventing the possibility of accidental overdoses. While giving incremental doses is possible with IV sedation, it’s not possible with oral sedation (as a result, oral sedation can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair).
  • For certain procedures — those involving gums rather than teeth (e.g. deep cleaning) — it may be possible to use nitrous instead of local anesthesia. N2O acts as a painkiller on soft tissues such as gums. However, its pain-relieving effects vary a lot from person to person and can’t be relied upon.
  • No injection is required. In cases of very severe needle phobia, getting laughing gas first can help you feel relaxed enough to allow the needle required for IV sedation to be inserted in your arm or hand. The very deep state of sedation achievable through IV sedation will then allow you to accept local anesthetic.
  • Inhalation sedation is very safe. It has very few side effects and the drugs used have no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain.
  • Inhalation sedation has been found to be very effective in eliminating or at least minimizing severe gagging.

Cochrane (IV) Intravenous Sedation Dentistry

Intravenous (IV) sedation is a technique used for patients who require a higher sedation level than the oral medication can provide. While this technique puts you into a sleep-like state, you will not be unconscious during your procedure like you would be with general anesthesia.

Even the lengthiest procedures can be completed while you are under IV sedation and you will most likely have no memory of your experience despite being conscious. Since this is a conscious sedation technique, your dentist may also use a local anesthetic depending on the work required.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Sedation dentistry is considered to be very safe.  At Cochrane Dental Centre, we ensure the safety of our Sedation Dentistry patients by using monitoring equipment during the procedure, which includes a pulse oximeter and oxygen equipment.  Our Dentists are also required to have reversal medication agents on hand in the rare case of an adverse reaction to the sedatives.

Patients undergoing sedation dentistry services are required to have a responsible party drive them to and from their appointment and remain with them until the effects of the sedation have passed.

Is Sleep Dentistry the Same as Sedation Dentistry?

The term “Sleep Dentistry” can be misleading. When we use sedatives, you are not actually asleep, although you may feel very sleepy, which is one of the effects of the sedatives.  The term sleep dentistry is often connected to the use of general anesthesia.

Does my Insurance Cover the Cost of Sedation Dentistry?

Most dental insurance plans typically do not cover the cost associated with sedation dentistry. Since every dental plan is unique, we ask that you contact your dental insurance company to determine if you may be eligible for coverage. At Cochrane Dental Centre, our dental team can assist you with this process and with making the necessary financial arrangements.

Learn More about Cochrane Sedation Dentistry at Cochrane Dental Centre

We welcome you to contact Cochrane Dental Centre, your Cochrane Sedation Dentist, to book your consultation appointment today.

Our Practice Always Welcomes New Patients – No Referral is required!

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