You’ve dreamed about it—going to sleep and waking up with all of your problems solved. You’ll have the perfect job, your bills will be paid, your weight will be ideal, you’ll finally have the hair you’ve always wanted, and of course, your teeth will be perfect.

When reality sets in, you realize that it’s all a pipe dream. Your problems can’t just go away while you’re asleep. Or can they? With sleep dentistry, it’s absolutely possible.

Sedation has enabled dentists to work more quickly and provides a method that is effective and painless. It’s simple: while you sleep, the dentist fixes your teeth, and when you wake up, you have that perfect smile you’ve been dreaming about.

Sleep dentistry is all about making sure patients are completely relaxed during a procedure, and you can’t get more relaxed than being asleep.

How Does Sleep Dentistry Work?

Here, at the Blende Dental Group, our sleep dentistry method usually involves three visits to our offices, but you’ll only have work done on your teeth during one of those visits.

First, you’ll have a consultation where we will determine exactly what needs to be done. We will evaluate your dental needs, discuss your concerns about the treatment, and we’ll schedule your procedure.

Then, you come back and take a nap. You will be completely sedated and while you sleep, the dentist will do all the work you need to completely restore your teeth to perfect health. Root canals, crowns, tooth extractions, gum surgery, the works. Whatever you need, it will all be done while you sleep soundly. Our anesthesiologist will keep an eye on your well-being while we focus on making your teeth and gums healthy and beautiful.

Finally, there will be a follow-up visit to make sure that everything is perfect, but by then, the hard part is done. Your mouth is restored, your teeth look fantastic, and you can show off a happy, healthy smile.

Sleep Dentistry Methods

Depending on the amount of work that has to be done, you might need more than one treatment, but you’ll sleep right through every procedure.

There are two types of sleep methods: IV sedation is perfect for patients who need treatments lasting under four hours. General anesthesia, which is usually performed in a hospital, is used for longer procedures.

You will be completely asleep, hearing, seeing, smelling, and tasting nothing while we restore your mouth to good health.

You Sleep, Dentist Fixes Your Teeth

Traditionally, for patients who need a lot of work, procedures are stretched out over long periods, with visits scheduled over several months. Sleep dentistry is different. If you need a lot of work done, it can usually be completed during a single visit.

Sleep dentistry is an excellent option for patients who suffer from dental phobia or have special needs because there is no pain and no stress during the procedure. It’s also perfect for people who have busy schedules or who would rather get it all done instead of having to make frequent trips to the dentist’s office.

If you’ve been dreaming about waking up to a perfect smile, if you need a lot of dental work but don’t have a flexible schedule, or if you or a loved one has special needs, then sleep dentistry might be the perfect solution.

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

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There are many misconceptions surrounding sedation and sleep dentistry, and we hope to address them with this article.

What You Should Know Before You Schedule An Appointment

First, when selecting a dentist, it is important to understand what sedation and sleep options are available. This is especially important because many dentists are advertising as a “Sedation Dentist” or “Sleep Dentist.” Oftentimes, they are using this term to indicate that they use oral conscious sedation, which is a pill that can relax you but does not help you go to sleep. You’ll learn more about that in just a moment.

Sedation dentistry is really much MORE than just pills. There are actually FOUR methods of Sedation Dentistry.

Conscious Sedation Dentistry

The first one is Nitrous Oxide. You may have heard of this referred to as “laughing gas.” Nitrous Oxide is a gas that helps decrease anxiety and allows you to feel more relaxed when inhaled. The recovery time is very short, and the effects pass within minutes, so you will be able to drive yourself home. Nitrous oxide is best used for patients with mild anxiety and short, uncomplicated dental treatment appointments.

Oral Conscious Sedation is the next method, and it involves taking a pill about an hour before your treatment, which makes you feel relaxed and drowsy. You will, however, remain awake and be able to interact with, and respond to, the dentist. The sedative effects can last for up to four hours.

The most commonly used medication is Halcion (which has effects similar to Valium). Ultimately, the goal of oral conscious sedation is to find a balance where you are relaxed, but not asleep.

The disadvantages to oral conscious sedation are that it can be difficult to control and measure your level of sedation, because the medications do not take immediate effect. They vary in their effectiveness from one person to another… and their impact can last for hours. Also, you will need a responsible adult to drive you both to and from the appointment.

If you are a person in good overall health, with mild anxiety to dental treatment, oral conscious sedation may be a good choice for you. However, and this is important: There are many dentists today that promote “Sleep Dentistry” but only provide a pill. You need to know that pills will not and should not put you to sleep. If you want true sleep dentistry, and don’t want to be aware or feel any pain whatsoever during your procedure, then you will want to find a dentist that offers intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

Sleep Dentistry

Intravenous sedation, commonly referred to as I.V. Sedation and often used in sleep dentistry, is a method that allows you to receive dental treatment while you are truly asleep. I.V. sedation, is fast-acting, takes effect in approximately 1 minute, and can be controlled to increase or decrease your level of sedation safely and precisely.

I.V. Sedation is a great option if you are afraid of receiving dental treatment, because you will not have to “get over” your fear by the time of your appointment. You will simply sleep through your treatment. What’s more, you will feel no pain; you will not hear, smell or taste anything, and you will have no memory of the procedure. The IV sedation method is predictable, comfortable, and ensures that your dental treatment can be easily completed. The recovery is simple and quick.

If you are a person in good overall health, with moderate to severe fear, or with a disability, sleep dentistry with I.V. sedation may be a good choice for you. You may also want to consider I.V. sedation if you have a lot of dental work that you would like to have completed in one visit.

The final method of sedation is General Anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you are completely asleep during your treatment. It is typically performed in a hospital by an anesthesiologist. General anesthesia is fast-acting and takes effect in approximately 1 minute. It can also be controlled to increase or decrease your level of sedation safely and precisely.

And just like I.V. Sedation, if you are afraid of receiving dental treatment, you will not have to “get over” your fear before your appointment, because you will be fully asleep throughout your treatment.

If you have special needs – physical or mental disabilities, are in recovery from an addiction, or have a complex medical condition, general anesthesia may be the safest option for you. General anesthesia can also be the ideal method when multiple procedures need to be accomplished in one visit.

Finding a Sedation or Sleep Dentist

So now that you know the different types of sedation options available, it’s time to find a dentist.

But, bear in mind that few dentists offer every sedation option: Most dentists today offer nitrous oxide, some dentists offer oral conscious sedation, even fewer dentists truly offer sleep dentistry and can provide I.V. sedation; only a handful of dentists offer general anesthesia.

One of the most important questions you should ask ANY dentist before scheduling an appointment is: “Do they offer ALL of the sedation and sleep dentistry options available?”

If you are unsure which sedation method is right for you, your best bet is to consult with a dentist who offers every option and who can make a recommendation that is appropriate for you. A dentist with limited sedation offerings may be more likely to make a recommendation based on what is offered at his or her office.

Here at the Blende Dental Group, we offer ALL the sedation options and can make a recommendation most appropriate for your needs. The dentists here are on staff and routinely treat patients at several Bay Area hospitals including Marin General Hospital, Bay area Kaiser Permanente hospitals and the California Pacific Medical Center hospital. Dr. Blende is Chief of the Dental Division at both California Pacific Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente San Francisco.

Our office is located in San Francisco and we treat people just like you everyday. There is nothing we haven’t seen, and no dental problem we haven’t helped solve. In fact, patients have traveled from more than 35 states and 20 countries to get their smile restored here.

Now, you can too. Simply call our office at 800-575-3375 and you will receive a FREE personal and confidential sedation review consultation, along with an opportunity to schedule a complete dental examination valued at $175 — all without charge or obligation. Just mention that you read this article on our blog.

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

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Many dentists today are advertising sedation and sleep dentistry services, making it a daunting task to find a skilled practitioner. The following questions will help you gain the information essential to making a smart and safe decision in choosing a sedation or sleep dentist.

1. Does the dentist offer the full range of sedation or sleep dentistry services needed for YOUR dental treatment?
What types of sedation are you offered? Is sleep dentistry an option? Can you work with the dentist to determine the appropriate course for you as an individual, or are you “forced” into a certain approach because other options are not offered?

Why ask?
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 – or even for every type of dental procedure.

Why ask? Just as general dentists possess skills that address specific needs, so do other dental specialists, including sedation and sleep dentists. A good dentist will recognize when procedures such as root canals, extensive gum surgery, or complex oral surgery procedures should be referred to a specialist.

2. Does the dentist partner with specialists, such as endodontists, periodontists, and oral surgeons to ensure that all of your dental health needs are appropriately met?

3. If the dentist does use specialists, how does this process work?

Why ask? Find out if the dentist will coordinate this care for you. Can the procedures be coordinated into one appointment or will you need separate and multiple appointments to see your dentist and the appropriate specialists? For example, at the Blende Dental Group, while you are undergoing sleep dentistry, an endodontist will be scheduled to complete your root canals at the same time, so that you don’t have to be put to sleep again on another day.

4. What patient populations does the dentist treat routinely? Are they a match for your specific needs?

Why ask? If, for example, you are a patient with Cerebral Palsy, you will want to make sure that the dentist routinely treats other patients with your condition. They must be adequately prepared to meet your special needs and medical requirements – safely, both physically and emotionally. This is true of dental anxiety, disabilities, medical conditions, and other life circumstances.

5. Is the dentist experienced, and does he have the appropriate equipment?

Questions to ask:

• What is the dentist’s training and experience?
• How many cases similar to yours has the dentist completed successfully?
• Does the dentist have the resources to provide the necessary safety equipment, adequate staffing, and treatment in the event of an emergency?
• If you are seeking intravenous (I.V. sedation), find out if the I.V. is administered by the dentist himself or by a physician anesthesiologist.

Other questions you may want to consider for yourself:

• 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?
• Will the dentist work with your insurance plan?
• 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?

If the answer you received to any of the above questions was “No,” or if you were not completely comfortable with any of the answers you received, please feel free to contact the Blende Dental Group. We would be happy to explain why we feel these issues are important and help you find and receive the care you deserve.

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

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