Sedation Dentistry

Different comfort levels fit different needs. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a light, breathe-in-through-a-mask option. You stay awake and aware, just relaxed. It wears off within minutes after we turn it off, so you can drive yourself home. Oral sedation is a pill you take before your appointment. You stay awake but deeply relaxed, with little to no memory of the procedure. You'll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for a few hours. IV sedation is a deeper in-office option, administered through an IV by Dr. Bauman, our IV-sedation-trained lead. You stay technically conscious but you may have little memory of the procedure. You'll need someone to drive you home and stay with you afterward. General anesthesia is reserved for select complex surgical cases, including some Teeth in a Day procedures. For those cases, Dentistry at East Piedmont brings in a board-certified anesthesiologist to administer and monitor anesthesia while you are fully asleep.

We decide together as part of your treatment planning. Three things guide the recommendation: the procedure (a single filling vs a multi-hour reconstruction), your anxiety level, and your medical history. Most short or single-tooth procedures don't need anything beyond local anesthesia. Anxious patients or longer surgical visits often benefit from oral or IV sedation. For select complex surgeries, such as some Teeth in a Day cases, general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist may be recommended. We never push a sedation level you don't need.

When administered properly by trained providers with appropriate monitoring, all three sedation levels we offer are safe. We review your medical history thoroughly before any sedation, coordinate with your physician for complex cases, and monitor vital signs throughout the procedure. Some medical conditions require special consideration (sleep apnea, certain heart conditions, certain medications), and we identify those during the consultation and adjust the approach accordingly.

Most medical conditions are compatible with sedation, but some require special consideration. Sleep apnea, certain heart conditions, certain medications, and pregnancy each change the picture. We review your full medical history before any sedation appointment and coordinate with your physician when that's warranted. If sedation isn't safe for your specific case, we'll tell you and walk through alternative comfort approaches.

It depends on which sedation we use. After nitrous oxide, yes. The effect wears off within minutes once the gas is turned off. After oral or IV sedation, no. You'll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for a few hours while the medication wears off. We confirm your ride before the appointment.

Depends on the level. With nitrous oxide, you stay aware and will remember the visit, just feeling relaxed. With oral sedation, most patients remember little or nothing of the procedure. With IV sedation, you typically have no memory of the visit at all. That's often the point for anxious patients or long procedures.

Before nitrous oxide you can eat and drink normally. Before oral or IV sedation you'll need to fast (typically no food or drink for 6 to 8 hours before the appointment). We give you specific instructions based on your sedation plan and your appointment time when we schedule.

No. Sedation manages anxiety and consciousness; local anesthesia manages pain. We use both. Even under IV sedation, the area being treated is fully numbed with local anesthesia. The combination is why most patients describe their sedated procedures as the easiest dental work they've ever had.

Dr. Bauman leads our IV sedation care and oversees the sedation itself. A dedicated team member continuously monitors your vital signs throughout the procedure. That includes heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The monitoring equipment is the same standard you'd see in any properly equipped surgical setting.