Anxiety and Sedation at Dr. Elston Wong Dentistry
Don’t suffer through dental anxiety
Rumour has it that some people dislike coming to the dentist. As impossible as it may seem to us, we accept it. For those who need something to keep them from being overly anxious during their appointments, there are solutions! We offer conscious sedation in the form of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation, or nitrous oxide plus an oral sedative. We can even offer general anesthesia at Royal Victoria Hospital for the severely anxious (where even IV sedation may not have worked). Sedation may not only be for the anxious! Sedation can be a great option for those who gag easily, feel claustrophobic, or just simply don’t want to be awake for their dentistry.
Fast facts
Sedation is very commonly done in our office with great results.
With oral sedation, usually there is amnesia in addition to relaxation during the appointment.
People are often braver than they think, only needing a bit of sedation to get them through treatment.
The safest level of sedation is the amount least required to get the job done.
Types of sedation
Nitrous Oxide
Our most common sedation, it’s very safe and boasts a very short recovery time (~5 mins). You’ll be awake, but relaxed during the appointment. Young children benefit greatly from this type of sedation, as it can turn dental visits into fun, positive experiences.
Nitrous oxide with oral sedative
For more nervous patients, or lengthier, more invasive appointments such as wisdom teeth removal, this option can be ideal. You will be monitored by a nurse, remaining technically conscious, but may experience amnesia about the procedure.
General anesthesia at RVH
This option is available for those with special medical needs, specific oral conditions, severe anxiety, or perhaps a large volume of dental work that’s best to be completed in one session. For the severely needle-phobic, we can have you asleep without an IV.
Let the results speak for themselves
Looking for real life transformations? Take a look at some before and after examples.
Try our virtual smile simulation
Anxiety and Sedation FAQs
What does sedation feel like?
Depending on the depth of sedation, you can feel mildly relaxed (the two martini effect), to more sedated (twilight zone where you’re not all there), to completely unconscious (general anesthesia)
What does sedation feel like?
For minimal sedation such as laughing gas, recovery is approximately 5 minutes, and then you’re good to go! For moderate and deeper levels of sedation, recovery will be several hours afterwards with precautions that will go into the next day. We’ll give you the instructions, don’t you worry.
Does my insurance cover sedation options?
This really depends on your individual insurance policy. Some plans cover, and others explicitly do not. Regardless, our recommendations do not change with your insurance – we’re treating you and not your insurance.
Are there any side effects to sedation?
The deeper the sedation, the bigger the ramifications, so we try to keep the sedation as light as practical. The doses we give are very safe, but lingering effects such as dizziness, dry mouth, nausea or headaches are possible. More commonly we run into problems with people who consume marijuana – often the sedative levels we need to give are higher and may be ineffective because that individual’s drug metabolism is so ramped up. Weed’s not all it’s cracked up to be, kids.
