Victory Smiles Family Dentist

Sedation Dentistry

Here at Victory Smiles, we strive to offer the safest, most comfortable treatment experience for all of our dental patients. We understand that for some, the idea of sitting in a dentist’s chair may create feelings of unease or extreme discomfort. Fear and anxiety are very common emotional responses, especially for our younger patients. In situations like these, we will occasionally recommend sedation as part of the treatment plan.

There are several methods we may employ for pain management, depending on the treatment and the needs of the patient. Pain management may require anything from a simple local anesthetic for a filling, laughing gas to soothe emotional distress, or we may need to prescribe general anesthesia for a dental implant. In that vein, there are also multiple levels of sedation.

Prior to the treatment in question, we will always consult with you and discuss which sedation option will be safest and most effective for your individual case.

Sedation dentistry requires several different kinds of medications to assist patients in relaxing. While sedation dentistry may sometimes be called "sleep dentistry", this is a misnomer - most sedated patients are actually awake for the entirety of the procedure, unless we are using general anesthesia.

Prior to the treatment in question, we will always consult with you and discuss which sedation option will be safest and most effective for your individual case.

Different Levels of Sedation

Minimal sedation — this type of sedation is given to patients who need assistance in relaxing, but will not put them to sleep.
Moderation sedation — patients will be fully conscious throughout the entire procedure, but may not remember it after the medication wears off.
Deep sedation — patients are "asleep", but not necessarily unconscious - the dentist can wake you.

Dr. Thien Kim Pham, DDS "Sedation may sound scary, but when correctly administered, it is very helpful and completely safe for our anxious patients. We want our patients to feel secure and comfortable, and we will always prioritize their safety when deciding upon pain management options."