Atlanta, Georgia Center for Dental Implants - Sedation Dentistry

Sedation is a process used to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state through the use of sedatives.  Sedative drugs (tranquillizers, depressants, anti-anxiety medications, nitrous oxide, etc.) can be administered in a variety of ways.  In the past, intravenous (IV) sedation - sedatives delivered via injection into the blood vessels of the hand or arm - was predominantly used to sedate a dental patient.

Dr. Bruce Fink can administer medications to help you relax and relieve your anxiety during your appointment.  You are encouraged to talk to them about your concerns and the possibility of using dental sedation during your procedure.  Sedation dentistry involves the use of medications to help you to relax during your procedure.  Sedation is not pain medication, so you will still need local anesthesia, depending upon the treatment.

One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform.  Therefore, complex dental procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments.

The most common type of medication is inhaled sedation, which involves breathing in a mixture of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas and oxygen, and oral sedatives.  Another type is IV (intravenous) sedation, which is provided by dentists with specialized training in IV sedation.  This is often referred to as sleep sedation dentistry. Sedation is safe when administered by dentists who are trained in its use.