Breathe. Relax. Smile.
Our Calgary dentist can alleviate your dental anxiety
so you can get the dental work you need.
Is fear of a dental procedure preventing you from receiving the dental treatment you need? Is the thought of even going to a dental office stopping you from having the smile of your dreams? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, it’s time for you to consider sedation dentistry by our general Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson.
Sedation dentistry helps to alleviate the stress and worry that is sometimes associated with dental procedures. For most patients, sedation dentistry allows them to be in a relatively relaxed and comfortable state while having dental treatment performed.
For your comfort and convenience, Dr. Dirk Thompson, our Calgary dentist, offers both oral sedation and IV sedation (IV sedation dentistry is administered by a duly qualified third party visiting general Calgary dentist).
If you’re wondering whether sedation dentistry is right for you, call our Calgary dentist office today for your sedation dentistry consultation appointment. Because everyone deserves a healthy, happy smile.
Interested in more information?
Our Calgary dentist welcomes your questions.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You
Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You?
Sedation dentistry is an option for the majority of patients who report experiencing fear or anxiety at the dentist’s office. Whether you are a suitable candidate for sedation dentistry depends upon a variety of factors which will be discussed with you at your sedation dentistry consultation appointment with our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson.
Sedation dentistry is suitable for most types of dentistry including teeth cleanings, teeth extractions, including wisdom teeth extractions, cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns, veneers and teeth bonding as well as restorative dental treatments including fillings, dentures, dental implants and root canals.
5 Reasons to Consider Sedation Dentistry
if you experience fear or anxiety at the dental office or during dental procedures
if you have had a traumatic dental experience in the past
if you have very sensitive teeth or a sensitive gag reflex
if you have limited jaw opening or difficulty keeping your mouth open
if you have extensive dental issues that you would like addressed during your sedation appointment
Are You a Candidate For Sedation Dentistry?
Although most patients are suitable candidates for sedation dentistry, there are some health and other factors that may exclude a patient from being an appropriate candidate for either oral sedation, IV sedation or both.
In assessing your candidacy for sedation dentistry, our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, will consider the following factors:
your age (you must be at least 12 years of age to be sedated at our Calgary dentist office)
your oral health and overall health
your medical history
your medication use
any allergies you may have
any past adverse reactions to anesthesia and/or sedation dentistry
your expectations regarding the level of sedation that can be achieved with oral sedation or intravenous sedation
Are Oral and IV Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Although every medical procedure carries certain risks and benefits, both IV sedation dentistry and oral sedation dentistry are considered to be safe options for most dental patients. Prior to proceeding with any sedation dentistry appointment, the risks and benefits of sedation dentistry will be thoroughly discussed with you by our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, so that you can make a completely informed decision about your oral healthcare.
As every patient has different individual health and dental needs, our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, will perform a pre-sedation assessment at your consultation appointment and then again on the day of your sedation appointment to ensure that sedation dentistry is and continues to be a safe option for you.
The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta has published a set of sedation guidelines that all Alberta dentists who administer sedation dentistry must follow, with different protocols set out for different types of sedation modalities. This protocol specifies guidelines to ensure the safe provision of sedation dentistry by a Calgary dentist.
Some of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta’s sedation dentistry guidelines are listed below.
- Sedation
Dentistry
Guidelines
the dental office must maintain certain safety equipment
the dental office must have certain drugs, including drugs for reversal of the sedation medication if medically necessary
the dentist must have the education specific to the mode of sedation administered, which education must be approved by the Alberta College of Dental Surgeons
each patient must be assessed prior to the sedation dentistry appointment to ensure that they are suitable candidates for sedation dentistry
each patient must be provided with pre-sedation instructions, including fasting instructions
each patient's vital signs must be continually monitored during the sedation dentistry appointment, with the level of monitoring differing depending upon the type of sedation administered
each patient must be provided with post-sedation dentistry instructions
each patient must be discharged into the care of an adult after their sedation dentistry appointment
By following the guidelines set forth by the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta, our Calgary dentist ensures that you are both comfortable and safe, considering all risks inherent to sedation during your sedation dentistry appointment.
- Learn More About Our Sedation Dentistry Services.
Our Calgary dentist is pleased to offer both oral sedation and IV sedation. Learn more about the benefits and safety of both oral and IV sedation dentistry by clicking below.
Wondering whether sedation dentistry is right for you?
Ready for your sedation dentistry consultation?
We’re located in NW Calgary in the heart of
beautiful Kensington / Sunnyside / Hillhurst.
Visit us today!
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
We Have Answers
Find out more about some of our most frequently asked questions of our Calgary dentist office about dental insurance.
It depends. While many patients are able to tolerate teeth extractions, including wisdom teeth extractions, qutie well without being sedated, you may wish to consider having your wisdom teeth (or any other teeth that require removal) removed by our Calgary dentist with the assistance of either oral sedation or IV sedation under the following circumstances:
- If you have moderate to severe anxiety about the dental procedure;
- If you are hard to freeze;
- If you are having more than one tooth extracted at a time;
- If you have had a prior negative experience with a tooth being extracted without sedation; and
- If your Calgary dentist anticipates that the removal of your wisdom teeth will be complicated.
If you are feeling some anxiety about having your wisdom teeth removed, our Calgary dentist encourages you to discuss your concerns with us as, often having knowledge about the dental procedure can alleviate some of your anxiety about having your teeth extracted.
Whomever your Calgary dentist may be, we recommend that you discuss the pros and cons of proceeding with your wisdom tooth extraction with sedation dentistry, including your anticipated recovery time from the sedation. You should also ask your dentist about the different types of sedation dentistry your dentist can offer you, and what you can expect both during and after your sedation dentistry appointment.
At our Calgary dentist office, we are pleased to offer our patients two kinds of sedation options: oral sedation and IV sedation (our IV sedation dentistry services are administered by a duly qualified, third party general dentist).
If you have any questions about wisdom teeth extraction or sedation dentistry, we welcome your call to our dental office conveniently located in NW Calgary in the heart of Kensington / Sunnyside / Hillhurst. Call us today. We’re here for you.
For the safety of your unborn child, we do not offer sedation dentistry to patients who are pregnant or think that they may be pregnant.
If you require dental treatment while you are pregnant, our Calgary dentist will discuss the risks and benefits of proceeding with any dental treatment. Any dental treatment completed, however, cannot be done with sedation dentistry.
The cost of sedation dentistry depends upon the type of sedation dentistry used (oral sedation versus IV sedation) and the length of time you will need to be sedated.
For more information about the cost of sedation dentistry, please call our Calgary dentist office to make a sedation dentistry consultation appointment with Dr. Dirk Thompson.
At our Calgary dentist office, children over the age of 12 years with no underlying medical issues can be sedated. For children less than 12 years of age, referral to a pedodontist for sedation dentistry is necessary.
Dental insurance plans vary widely amongst dental insurance providers therefore whether your dental insurer will cover any portion of your sedation dentistry will depend upon your the particulars of your dental plan.
If you’re wondering whether your dental insurance covers sedation dentistry, please call our office or complete the form on our website (link below) and our Calgary dentist team would be happy to request a pre-determination from your insurance company.
Our Calgary dentist is always happy to request a pre-determination of your dental benefits on your behalf. If you are considering dental treatment but are wondering what your insurance benefits will cover, please call our Calgary dentist office or submit your dental insurance details below and our office will request a pre-determination of benefits on your behalf.
