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Archive for the ‘Sedation Dentistry’ Category

Ten Tips for Finding a Sedation Dentist

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Sedation dentistry has become increasingly popular among dental patients, largely due to the high rate of dental anxiety and the effectiveness that sedation has on minimizing and eliminating pain and anxiety.

Studies show that 1 in 7 Americans avoids seeing a dentist regularly due to dental anxiety. In recent years, sedatives have been instrumental in helping patients overcome anxiety so that they can maintain good oral health. In many cases, an expert sedation dentist can even guide patients toward eliminating dental anxiety altogether.

People who are fearful of dentist appointments aren’t the only ones who benefit from seeing a sedation dentist. Seniors, patients with special needs, and people who need extensive work also find that sedatives make optimum oral health easier to achieve.

How to Find a Sedation Dentist

Here are some tips for finding, choosing, and starting a comprehensive course of treatment with a sedation dentist:

  1. Before you start your search for a sedation dentist, make a list of what you are looking for in a dental professional. Do you need work done immediately? Are you working within a strict budget? Do you have dental insurance? Do any of your family members have special needs? How far are you willing to travel to see your dentist?
  2. Compile a list of prospective dentists in your area who offer sedation dentistry. You can find local dentists by using online search engines, the yellow pages, and various consumer review sites.
  3. Check each dentist’s website to learn about the range of procedures and services offered. This is a great way to narrow your list down. Make sure you review the dentist’s credentials, schooling, experience, and areas of specialization or expertise. Also, check to ensure that the dentists you’re considering meet the criteria you set in step one.
  4. There are several different types of sedation dentistry. Review the websites to find out which methods each dental practice uses. Dental offices that provide all four types of sedation offer the greatest range in service and choice.
  5. Does the practice have a single sedation dentist or a full team of dental professionals? Many modern practices employ a team of dentists and specialists, which makes dental visits more convenient for you and your family.
  6. Write a list of any questions that you have and call or email the dentists you’re considering. If you feel uncomfortable or if any of them avoid your questions, cross them off. You should always work with health care professionals who are clear and cooperative and willing to put your comfort first.
  7. Before committing to a new dentist, it’s a good idea to have an in-person consultation. Sit down with the sedation dentist to talk about the treatments and procedures they offer and types of sedation they use.
  8. Once you have selected your new dentist, make sure you have all of your family’s previous dental records forwarded to your new dentist.
  9. Most dentists will want to conduct an initial exam and take X-rays. This introductory procedure is quick and painless and ensures that your new dentist has assessed the current health of your teeth and gums.

10. Make sure you discuss a short- and long-term treatment plan with your new dentist and schedule regular cleanings and exams twice a year.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with your sedation dentist. You should never work with a dentist who makes you feel uncomfortable or who refuses to clearly answer your questions.

The Blende Dental Group

The Blende Dental Group has been serving patients in San Francisco for over 20 years. To speak with our sedation dentist or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-575-3375.

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How Sedation Dentistry Helps Special Needs Patients

Monday, December 5th, 2011

For most people, a trip to the dentist’s office is a mild inconvenience. A dental appointment interrupts our schedule, there is usually an associated cost, and we may also be dealing with a toothache or some other discomfort in our teeth or gums. Most people don’t look forward to dentist visits the way they look forward to a vacation or holiday, but they understand that proper dental care is essential for maintaining one’s overall health.

However, special needs patient face additional and unique challenges in obtaining professional dental care.

For patients with limited mobility, traveling to a dental office can be difficult or even impossible. Some special needs patients struggle to sit still in the dentist’s chair for the duration of an appointment. For many others, the strange environment and unfamiliar people in a dentist’s office are frightening.

Sedation dentistry makes dental appointments easier for special needs patients. Seniors and people with disabilities and health conditions, such as cerebral palsy, autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and patients with moderate to severe anxiety all benefit from sedation dentistry.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is the practical use of sedatives during dental treatments and procedures. Sedatives range from mild relaxants to full anesthesia.

There are four basic types of sedation dentistry:

  • General Anesthesia – patient is fully unconscious for the duration of a procedure.
  • Intravenous Sedation – patient experiences a lowered level of consciousness during treatment.
  • Oral Conscious Sedation – patient takes a pill that produces a relaxed, sleepy state.
  • Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) – patient experiences decreased anxiety and enhanced relaxation.

Learn more about the different types of sedation dentistry.

Blende Dental Group Sedation Dentistry in San Francisco

The Blende Dental Group has been providing sedation dentistry and working with special needs patients for over 20 years. Founded by Dr. David Blende and internationally recognized for their work with special needs patients and sedation dentistry, the team of dental professionals at the Blende Dental Group has attracted patients from around the globe for highly specialized, expert dental care.

The Blende Dental Group offers a full range of options in sedation dentistry and works closely with patients and their families to determine the best possible course of treatment for each patient.

Some patients just need a little help relaxing during an appointment. Others can sleep through entire procedures and have a large amount of dental work completed in a single day through One-Sleep-Visits. The Blende Dental Group’s sister organization, House Call Dentist makes house calls for patients who cannot travel.

The Blende Dental Group’s commitment to serving special needs patients and providing optimum care in sedation dentistry has brought dental health and well being to patients in the bay area and around the world.

The Blende Dental Group

The Blende Dental Group has been using sedation dentistry and treating seniors and patients with special needs for over 20 years. Our team of San Francisco dentists is ready to take your questions and schedule an appointment. Please call 1-800-575-3375 to learn more.

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Sedation Dentistry for Anxiety-Free Dental Treatments

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Dental anxiety affects millions of Americans. Every day, people avoid seeing a dentist. They procrastinate when they know they need to make an appointment. They cancel the appointments they have. Many of these people aren’t aware that they are struggling with dental anxiety and that dental anxiety can be alleviated with sedation dentistry.

People with dental anxiety know that they are not fond of having dental work done. They may tell stories about negative experiences they’ve had in the past. Often, these experiences include procedures that resulted in severe pain. Their anxiety is understandable.

Yet at the same time, professional dentist visits are essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

It’s a serious conflict. You need to see the dentist because you’re in pain or because you know you need work done. Yet your fear prevents you from making the call.

The bad news is that without seeing a dentist, your overall physical health is comprised. The good news is that sedation dentistry is available and can render dentist visits anxiety-free.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

In recent years, dentists have begun to understand the anxiety that many patients experience. This anxiety has created a barrier to oral health for millions of people. In an effort to help patients overcome their fears so that they can receive proper dental care, dentists have embraced sedation dentistry as a means to help patients receive the treatments they need.

Using sedatives, dentists can effectively treat patients with mild to severe dental anxiety. There are a number of options available, and a sedation dentist can help patients choose the best sedative based on individual needs and concerns.

In some cases, a mild sedative, such as nitrous oxide, will remove the edge that many people feel when they sit down in the dentist’s chair. In other cases, severe anxiety can be completely alleviated through a pill that promotes relaxation. The most serious cases may require unconscious sedation, in which the patient sleeps through the entire procedure.

Understanding Patients and Choosing Sedation Methods

The most important component of sedation dentistry is the patient. It is essential that prior to treatment, the patient consult with the dentist to determine the best sedation option.

There are four basic types of sedation dentistry: general anesthesia, IV sedation, oral conscious sedation, and nitrous oxide. Based on a patient’s level of anxiety, state of health, and medical history, the dentist and patient can work together to choose the best sedation option.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia renders a patient unconscious, completely asleep throughout the treatment. It takes effect within one minute. While under general anesthesia, patients feel no pain and cannot smell or taste anything, nor will they have any recollection of the procedure. General anesthesia is ideal for patients with severe anxiety, special needs, and who are undergoing extensive work in a single procedure.

IV Sedation

IV sedation is similar to general anesthesia. It produces a lowered level of consciousness. Under IV sedation, patients are asleep within one minute, feel no pain, and cannot hear, smell, or taste anything. Patients will have no memory of the procedure and recovery is fast and easy.

Oral Conscious Sedation (Pills)

When using oral conscious sedation, patients take a pill an hour before the treatment appointment. The pill promotes relaxation, making it ideal for patients who need to alleviate anxiety prior to coming into the dental office.

Patients under oral conscious sedation will remain awake and able to interact with the dentist. Effects last up to four hours and require that the patient designate a ride home after the appointment.

The most common pills used in oral conscious sedation dentistry are Ativan and Valium, both of which have a low incidence of side effects. Oral conscious sedation is ideal for patients with dental anxiety who experience nervousness before and during dentist visits.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is a gas that patients breathe via an inhaler that is placed over the nose. Often referred to as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation. It has an extremely short recovery time, allowing patients to drive themselves home. It is an ideal sedation dentistry option for patients with mild anxiety undergoing brief and simple treatments.

The Blende Dental Group

Sedation dentistry makes oral health possible for millions of patients who otherwise would not obtain professional dental care due to anxiety.

The Blende Dental Group offers a full scope of sedation dentistry options for patients struggling with dental anxiety. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-575-3375.

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Sedation Dentist Dedicated to Making Oral Health More Accessible

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

One of the biggest obstacles to oral health is anxiety. Many patients postpone dentist appointments because they fear the treatment will be painful. Usually, these anxieties are based on past experiences in which patients endured painful procedures.

Often, dental anxiety is referred to as “dental phobia,” but the word phobia doesn’t accurately describe patients who are fearful of seeing a dentist. Phobia specifically implies that a fear is exaggerated or illogical. Patients coping with dental anxiety experience a rational fear that is completely logical because that fear is based on actual past experiences.

The widespread phenomenon of dental anxiety in the past few decades has prevented millions of patients from obtaining and maintaining proper dental health. These patients have been coping with a wide range of anxieties, from mild nervousness to extreme fear.

Making Dentistry Comfortable and Accessible

Dental professionals and pharmaceutical developers have been working together to find solutions that will help patients overcome their anxieties, making dental health accessible for all, even for the most anxious patients.

A sedation dentist has the skills and resources to treat patients who are dealing with anxieties surrounding dentist visits. By incorporating sedatives into the treatment plan, a sedation dentist offers solutions for patients who are struggling with anxiety. The result? Healthy teeth and gums for even the most fearful of patients.

Today, there are a number of options for sedatives that allow patients to attend dentist appointments without experiencing any anxiety whatsoever.

Conscious vs. Unconscious Sedation

A sedation dentist can ease patients’ anxiety levels, fears, and discomfort by administering or prescribing sedatives. Sedation options range from calming medications that promote relaxation to strong sedatives under which patients are completely unconscious.

Conscious sedation incorporates the use of either nitrous oxide or pills to help patients relax through a dental treatment. Nitrous oxide is administered in the office at the beginning of the treatment session. Oral conscious sedation methods include pills that patients can take an hour prior to their appointments to help them overcome anxiety or pills that are administered at the beginning of a treatment session so patients are relaxed for its duration.

Unconscious sedation uses local or general anesthesia so patients are fully asleep through the entire visit. IV sedation may also be used in this capacity, especially for patients who will undergo lengthy treatment sessions.

Sedation Dentist

The most important quality that any sedation dentist can have is compassion for patients who are struggling with dental anxieties. In this sense, the dentist’s treatments go beyond treating the teeth and gums. The dentist’s chairside manner helps patients feel at ease in the chair.

An experienced and qualified sedation dentist will meet with patients before performing any type of procedure to determine the patient’s level of anxiety and to discuss sedation options. This ensures that patient and dentist work together to find the best possible solution for making dental health accessible.

Sedation dentistry makes healthy teeth and gums a reality for people who previously could not bring themselves to make a dentist appointment, let alone sit in a dentist’s chair.

The Blende Dental Group

The Blende Dental Group includes renowned sedation dentists trained and experienced in providing advanced techniques and medicine in dentistry to alleviate pain and anxiety. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-575-3375.

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How a Sedation Dentist Can Help Patients With Dental Phobia


Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

You’ve tried going to the dentist to have much-needed dental work done, but it’s just too hard. First, you have to pick up the phone and make the call, but every time you reach for the phone, your hand shakes and your nerves rattle. If you can get through scheduling that appointment, then you have to physically go to the dentist’s office, which means even more anxiety.

And then, once you’re there, there’s no time to congratulate yourself for facing your fears. You’re bombarded with the sounds and smells, and your stomach is tied up in knots. Even if you make it all the way to the examination room, trying to distract yourself with music or relaxation techniques, the dentist still interrupts with that dreaded request to “open wider, please.”

At best, you’re slightly anxious about a trip to the dentist’s office. At worst, you’re absolutely terrified. So, you put it off. You avoid making appointments. You cancel the appointments you do make. You come up with reasons and excuses to avoid going to the dentist, but the truth is that you’re scared.

Dental Phobia

The good news is that you’re not alone. One in seven Americans suffers from dental phobia, and the phobia can be so severe that these patients will go years without seeing a dentist.

Here at the Blende Dental Group, we get it. What you really want is a way to have your dental work done without having to be there at all. At the very least, you wish you could sleep through the whole thing.

Welcome to sedation dentistry, the stress-free world of sleeping through your dental procedure. Using IV sedation, the dentist puts you into a deep sleep and then works on your teeth. You’ll feel no pain, and when you wake, your dental procedures will be all done.

Sedation Dentist

There are several types of sedation dentistry methods available, and the Blende Dental Group uses all of them. Some (like nitrous oxide or oral sedatives) leave you awake but completely relaxed. These are ideal if you don’t need a lot of work done or if your fear level is closer to “nervous” than “terrified.”

However, conscious sedation is not always enough. For extensive procedures or for people who have severe phobias, IV sedation is an ideal option.

IV Sedation Dentist

With IV sedation, we administer medication directly into your blood stream, and it goes into effect almost immediately, putting you to sleep so that your total mouth restoration can happen without your having to do anything except dream of your new, healthy and beautiful smile.

IV sedation is not as common as more familiar types of sedation, like Novocaine or nitrous oxide, because sedation dentistry requires special certification. Certified and experienced dentists, like the dentists here at the Blende Dental Group, ensure that dental sedation is just as safe as oral sedatives, such as Valium. In fact, IV sedation is more effective than oral medication because dosage can be adjusted as needed and instantaneously.

Just think—you can get all your dental work done in one, easy, painless, and worry-free visit, simply by seeing a sedation dentist. There’s no extra stress and nothing to fear—because you’ll nap through the entire procedure. You will hear nothing, taste nothing, smell nothing, feel nothing. It’s like a dream come true, and you’ll wake up with perfect teeth.


The Blende Dental Group offers Sleep and Sedation Dentistry for fearful, phobic, and special needs patients. To learn more about sedation dentistry, download a free copy of the The Consumer’s Guide To Sleep & Sedation Dentistry. To speak with a patient care coordinator or to schedule an appointment with a sedation dentist, call 1-800-575-3375.

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Sedation Dentistry: How To Find the Right Sedation Dentist for Your Loved One (part 2)

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

In part one of this article we discussed how finding the right sedation dentist for a special needs patient is always a daunting task. It’s made even more daunting these days by the number of practitioners who claim expertise in sedation dentistry, an emerging mode of dental treatment that can be very beneficial for medically compromised and disabled patients.

With this preliminary knowledge of sedation dentistry in mind, you can interview a dental practitioner and/or his staff about the specifics and ensure that your loved one is in good hands. Here is a list of questions that Dr. Blende recommends asking before you choose a sedation dentist:

Critical Questions To Ask About Sedation Dentistry

What sedation options does the dentist offer? Again, the vast majority of sedation dentists offer only two sedation options: the simple pill or “laughing gas.” Be wary of a dentist who claims that these two forms of sedation will enable a patient to sleep through treatment. Remember, the term “sleep dentistry” can be very misleading and its use is now illegal in several states.

If you want to choose from a full spectrum of sedation dentistry options, from mild sedatives to I.V. or general anesthesia, for your loved one, ask a special needs dentist for a recommendation, or call the Blende Dental Group at 1-800-575-3375, they can recommend a sedation dentist who works near to you.

  • Is the dentist experienced? What safety measures are in place to protect your loved one? You should always inquire about a dentist’s training, licensure and accreditations, and experience. How many cases similar to that of your relative’s has the dentist completed successfully?
  • Also ask about the dentist office’s safety record, and make sure the practice has adequate staffing, resuscitation and safety equipment in the event of an emergency. If you are seeking intravenous (I.V. sedation), Dr. Blende believes it is safer for a physician anesthesiologist rather than the dentist to administer the I.V. sedation since the dentist is also occupied performing complex dental procedures on your family member.
  • Does the dentist routinely care for patients with special needs? If your daughter has cerebral palsy, for example, make sure the dentist you’re considering routinely treats patients with this condition and stays abreast of research developments that pertain to this condition. He or she should listen to and respect your concerns and requirements. Your family member’s needs for safety, both physically and emotionally, should be readily and empathetically addressed.
  • Does the dentist offer the full range of services needed for dental treatment? What types of sedation are offered to you on behalf of your relative who has special needs? Can you work with the dentist to determine the appropriate course for your loved one, as an individual, or are you “forced” into a certain approach because other options are not offered? After all, different people have different sedation requirements, due to medical conditions, disabilities, or personal desires. Not every sedation option is appropriate or safe for every person — nor even for every type of dental procedure.
  • Does the dentist work in partnership with specialists such as periodontists, endodontists, and oral surgeons? If so, how does this process work? Find out if the dentist will coordinate this care for you. Can the procedures be easily coordinated into one appointment or will you need separate and multiple appointments to see your dentist and the appropriate specialists? At the Blende Dental Group, for example, a patient can receive sedation that enables him or her to sleep through all her dental work, in which a specialist can complete a root canal at the same time. That way, your relative does not have to be put to sleep again on another day.

More Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Sedation Dentist:

  • Do you take our insurance plan? A good dental practice will try to optimize the amount of treatment covered under your health and dental insurance. The staff should also help you identify other resources for the financing of necessary dental work.
  • Are you comfortable traveling for expert care and then returning to a dentist in your community for continuing care?
  • How will the dental office help you to coordinate your appointments and travel?
  • Is the dentist affiliated with any local hospitals?
  • Does the dentist listen to you, treat you with respect, explain your treatment clearly, and encourage your questions?

Now that you’re a discerning, informed consumer, you can more easily make the right choice on behalf of your family. In the hands of a skilled sedation dentist in an office that cares deeply about people whose daily lives are complicated by illness or disability, transformations and compassionate, comfortable care can be achieved.


The Blende Dental Group offers Sleep and Sedation Dentistry for fearful, phobic, and special needs patients. To learn more about sedation dentistry, download a free copy of the The Consumer’s Guide To Sleep & Sedation Dentistry. To speak with a patient care coordinator or to schedule an appointment with a sedation dentist, call 1-800-575-3375.

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Sedation Dentistry: How To Find the Right Sedation Dentist for Your Loved One (part 1)

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Finding the right sedation dentist for a special needs patient is always a daunting task. It’s made even more daunting these days by the number of practitioners who claim expertise in sedation dentistry, an emerging mode of dental treatment that can be very beneficial for medically compromised and disabled patients.

You’ve undoubtedly heard radio advertisements or seen other promotions that promise that a patient can, with the help of a “simple pill,” sleep through his or her treatment. But these promises can be misleading, says San Francisco dentist, Dr. David Blende, one of the nation’s foremost special needs dentists and an expert who has offered patients a full spectrum of sedation for more than 20 years. “Indeed, the use of the term ‘sleep dentistry’ is illegal in some states.”

Sedation dentistry can unburden and transform the lives of special needs patients by restoring smiles and making the acts of chewing and eating pleasurable again. Special needs dentists also embrace the use of sedation because it has meant they can readily avoid and abandon the use of physical restraints and restore dignity to all their patients, even those most intolerant of treatment. After having complex work done by a sedation dentist, patients can often return to their local family dentists for routine dental appointments.

Yet, Dr. Blende recommends that before you arrange treatment for your mother with Alzheimer’s or your daughter with Down syndrome, arm yourself with the basic facts about sedation dentistry and plan to interview a prospective sedation dentist with the questions listed below.

Sedation Dentistry & Special Needs

The emerging use of sedation dentistry will change the way many of us think about the dreaded dental chair. While dentists have long used Novocaine to numb nerves and prevent pain, dentistry has lagged behind medicine in its use of sedation, or relaxants, to help patients endure uncomfortable and nerve-wracking procedures. Today, many dentists can prescribe a “simple pill,” usually Valium or Halcion, for patients who want to be relaxed and less cognizant of dental work during their appointments. Together with nitrous oxide or “laughing gas,” these are often the only sedatives so-called sedation experts offer.

For those of us who get nervous about dental appointments, mild relaxant medications make routine check-ups and dental work much less bothersome. However, it’s important to note that mild sedatives such as Valium or Halcion, when properly dosed, do not induce sleep. Patients who need to sleep through treatment—people who are profoundly afraid of dental treatment, who are medically compromised or developmentally disabled, or who need extensive dental work done—will not be not well served by these limited sedation options.

Only a select few dentists nationwide, including the Blende Dental Group and a number of university-based hospital dentistry programs, offer the full spectrum of sedation—which includes sleep-inducers such as intravenous and general anesthesia.

Fortunately, these select practitioners know each other well and readily refer patients to each other, depending on a patient’s location and mobility. In Dr. Blende’s case, he and a team of specialists including endodontists (root canal specialists), periodontists (gum disease specialists) and anesthesiologists (pain relief specialists), routinely perform full-mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Together with his sedation dentist, a patient can choose the form of sedation that best suits his case and is not limited to a pill or laughing gas.

In part 2 of this article, we will review the critical questions to ask before you select a sedation dentist.


The Blende Dental Group offers Sleep and Sedation Dentistry for fearful, phobic, and special needs patients. To learn more about sedation dentistry, download a free copy of the The Consumer’s Guide To Sleep & Sedation Dentistry. To speak with a patient care coordinator or to schedule an appointment with a sedation dentist, call 1-800-575-3375.

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Four Sedation Dentistry Options

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Sedation dentistry makes dental procedures easy and painless. Sedatives help patients relax and ensure a painless dentist visit. Sedation dentistry is ideal for patients who have special needs, dental anxiety, and those who need a significant amount of dental work to be completed in a single visit.

Before you choose a sedation dentist, it’s essential that you understand the different options that are available in sedation dentistry.

Unconscious Sedation Dentistry

With general or local anesthesia, you will sleep through your dental treatment.

General Anesthesia:

General anesthesia produces a state of unconsciousness wherein you are completely asleep during your treatment. General anesthesia is fast-acting, taking effect in approximately one minute, and can be controlled to increase or decrease your level of sedation safely and precisely. If you are afraid of receiving dental treatment, you will not have to “get over” your fear on your own, because you will sleep through your treatment. If you have special needs, such as physical or mental disabilities, are in recovery from an addiction, or have complex medical conditions, general anesthesia may be the safest option for you.

When you receive general anesthesia during your dental treatment, you will feel no pain; you will not hear, smell or taste anything, and you will have no memory of the procedure. This modality is predictable, comfortable, and ensures that your dental treatment can be easily completed.

Intravenous Sedation (I.V.):

I.V. Sedation produces a lowered level of consciousness wherein you are asleep during your treatment. I.V. sedation is fast-acting, taking effect in approximately one minute, and can be controlled to increase or decrease your level of sedation safely and precisely. If you are afraid of receiving dental treatment, you will not have to “get over” your fear on your own, because you will sleep through your treatment.

When you receive I.V. sedation during your dental treatment, you will feel no pain; you will not hear, smell or taste anything, and you will have no memory of the procedure. This modality is predictable, comfortable, and ensures that your dental treatment can be easily completed. The recovery is simple and quick.

Conscious Sedation Dentistry

With conscious sedation, you will be awake but relaxed through your dental procedure.

Oral Conscious Sedation (Pills):

A pill is taken about an hour before your treatment, which will make you feel relaxed and somewhat sleepy. You will, however, remain awake, and will be able to interact with and respond to the dentist. The sedative effects can last for up to four hours. Sometimes you may also be prescribed a pill to take the night before your treatment to help you sleep. The most commonly used oral conscious sedation medications are Halcion, Ativan or Valium, all of which generally have a low incidence of side effects.

This mode of sedation is gaining popularity and is now heavily advertised as “sedation dentistry” and “dentistry with oral conscious sedation”. However, if you hear the term “sleep dentistry” associated with the use of oral medications, understand that pills do not and should not put a patient to sleep. If you are a patient who wants to sleep through your dental treatment, oral medications should not be your choice of sedation. You will need to have a responsible adult drive you home.

Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”)

Nitrous oxide is a gas breathed though a small rubber inhaler placed over your nose that helps decrease anxiety, allowing you to feel more relaxed. The recovery time is very short, and the effects pass within minutes, so you will be able to drive yourself home. Nitrous is best used for patients with mild anxiety who are having short, uncomplicated dental treatment.


The Blende Dental Group offers Sleep and Sedation Dentistry for fearful, phobic, and special needs patients. To learn more about sedation dentistry, download a free copy of the The Consumer’s Guide To Sleep & Sedation Dentistry. To speak with a patient care coordinator or to schedule an appointment with a sedation dentist, call 1-800-575-3375.

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