Oral surgeries are not all created equally. The same can be said for the levels of dental anxiety in patients, which is why there are different levels of sedation techniques available for patients based on their needs. Boerne Dental Center performs 80-90% of surgeries needed for our patients in the comfort of your familiar dental office setting. Frequently, this is done with only local anesthetic for routine extractions and implant placements. Most patients are very pleasantly surprised how quick and painless the experience is. For more complex surgeries, many patients feel more at ease with some level of sedation.
While most oral surgery offices will almost always plan your procedure using IV sedation, this is rarely mandatory or even needed. For most patients whose anxiety level is not excessive, a minor level of sedation is more than enough to do your surgery in a very relaxed manner.
Boerne Dental Center offers two options of sedation:
Our first option is Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) for mild sedation, which will help you feel calm and comfortable during your appointment. Nitrous Oxide is the safest option as it clears your system allowing you to drive home after your procedure.
Our second option is Halcion for moderate sedation. Halcion can make you sleepy and is also a memory inhibitor, so you may not remember most of the process. If you decide Halcion is the better option for your procedure, an escort must bring you and take you home.
Years of experience and literally thousands of surgeries have proven that patients do very well with the dental surgery that accompanies these lighter levels of sedation and a gentle surgery means an easier recovery.
Although, IV sedation may still be desired for our more anxious patients, please consider the lighter levels for added safety and less expense. Please ask our sedation dentist or staff about this valuable service to make your surgery comfortable and safe.