Sedation Dentistry Minnetonka

Sedation Options:

Nitrous Oxide

Patients breathe nitrous oxide – commonly known as laughing gas – combined with oxygen through a mask that is placed over your nose to help you relax. Your dentist controls the amount of sedation you receive and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you can safely drive yourself home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

This is the most common type of sedation dentistry. Oral medications are prescribed and taken by mouth. These medications are taken 1 hour before your appointment and help you feel drowsy, although you will still be awake. This option requires that someone drives you to and from the appointment.

Regardless of which type of sedation patients receive, they will also require local anesthetic – a numbing medication at the site in the mouth where the dentist is working – to relieve any pain associated with the procedure.

Please note: Tonka Smiles only offers Sedation Dentistry for adult patients.

Why Choose Sedation Dentistry?

Advantages to patients include:

• Treatment is completed when you are in a more relaxed mood.
• You will have less difficulty sitting through a lengthy procedure.
• Multiple treatments and full mouth restorations can occur during the same visit.
• Less discomfort after treatment.

For some, the thought of sitting in the dental chair is just too much to bear, and it’s no wonder when terrified patients relate stories from their childhood of undergoing dental treatment without dental anesthesia. Sedation dentistry is a godsend for these patients. The often badly needed dentistry can safely be accomplished in the dental office with the help of sedation, very often with little memory of the procedure.

In open and caring atmosphere patients can be provided pain-free dental care knowing they are not being judged or looked down upon because of their anxiety over dentistry. We strive to excel at the technical aspects of dentistry but just as important we strive to care for the patient’s emotional needs. We take your fear seriously and are dedicated to providing a dental experience that will both improve your dental health and lessen your dental fears.

If you are someone who hasn’t been to the dentists in years because of fear and anxiety, Dr. Phillips is committed to providing you with a safe and pain-free dental experience. She has completed 2 DOCS courses and has completed the University of Minnesota 80-hour Sedation Course.

What does this mean for you?

• More dentistry can be performed in a single visit
• Experience little-to-no post-operative discomfort
• All risk factors, patient individuality, and procedures planned are taken into account before arriving at the best choice for sedation
• Treatment of anxious and fearful patients

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SEDATION: 

How will I feel after the sedation?

Most patients remember nothing about their treatment. A few will remember a little, usually at the end of the appointment when we are getting them ready to go home.

Can I drive myself home?

You will need someone to bring you to our office on the day of your sedation appointment and you MUST have someone take you home afterward.

How safe is the sedation?

The reason that we use oral sedation is because of its safety. We use monitoring equipment to monitor your pulse and blood pressure.

You’ll be done before you know it, completely unaware of the time passing, totally relaxed. Please call our office today at Tonka Smiles Phone Number 952-938-8533 to find out if Sedation Dentistry is right for you.