Oral Sedation Dentistry
Helping you overcome dental anxiety safely, effectively and comfortably.
Comfortable and Relaxed Dentistry.
Overcome dental anxiety with oral sedation by our Calgary dentist.
Dental phobia can be an overwhelming reality for many patients and can make many patients hesitant to obtain the dental treatment they either need or desire. Dental phobia can originate from a previous negative dental experience, a fear of drills or needles, an assumption that dental work is painful (it should not be!) or a strong gag reflex.
If you suffer from fear of dental procedures, we can help. Our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, offers oral sedation, a safe and effective sedation option that allows most people to feel relaxed throughout their dental treatment. This type of sedation uses an oral medication and is meant to achieve a minimal level of sedation so you remain responsive throughout your dental treatment. Best of all, you can be assured that our Calgary dentist team understands the nature of your anxiety and will treat you with an extra gentle touch and do everything we can to ensure your dental experience is as relaxed and comfortable as possible.
If fear or anxiety is preventing your from achieving optimal oral health, call our Calgary dentist today. Because everyone deserves a happy, healthy smile.
Questions about oral sedation dentistry?
Ready to schedule your appointment?
Our Calgary dentist welcomes your inquiries.
What Are the Steps For Oral Sedation Dentistry?
Your consultation appointment with our Calgary dentist.
The first step towards getting the dental work you need, comfortably, is making your consultation appointment for oral sedation with our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson. At your consultation appointment, Dr. Thompson will explain the process of oral sedation and will answer all of your questions. Our goal is to ensure you feel completely comfortable with what to expect with oral sedation dentistry.
Our Calgary dentist will also ensure that you are an appropriate candidate for oral sedation by assessing a variety of factors. Some of these factors are listed below.
your age (you must be at least 12 years of age)
your body mass index (BMI)
your past and current medical history
your overall oral health
your age (you must be at least 12 years of age)
your overall health
any allergies you may have
your previous experiences with sedation
your medication use, including prescription and over-the-counter medication
your expectations for the level of sedation to be achieved
After considering all of these factors, our Calgary dentist will make a recommendation regarding whether you are an appropriate candidate for oral sedation or whether consideration should be given to other sedation modalities.
Preparation for your oral sedation dentistry appointment.
In preparation for your oral sedation dentistry appointment, our Calgary dentist team will provide you with a written oral sedation package which will include instructions for preparing for oral sedation, a consent for oral sedation, as well as instructions and information regarding your care after your oral sedation appointment.
Some of these important preparation steps are summarized below.
Prior to your oral sedation appointment, you will be provided with an oral sedation package that includes preparation instructions. It is essential that follow the pre-sedation instructions provided to you. If you fail to do so, for your safety our Calgary dentist will have to re-schedule your appointment.
Your must fast for a prescribed period of time prior to your sedation dentistry appointment.
You must refrain from eating certain foods and drinks for a prescribed period of time.
You must refrain from taking certain medications for a prescribed period of time. Unless otherwise instructed, continue to take all prescription medication.
You must be healthy on the day of your oral sedation appointment.
You must ensure that you have arranged an escort to bring you home after your sedation dentistry appointment and stay with you until fully recovered.
You must arrange your schedule so that you do not have to perform activities that require alertness after your sedation dentistry appointment (eg working, driving, cooking and caring for children).
During your oral sedation dentistry appointment.
Your oral sedation appointment will begin in our comfortable and roomy dental suite. Once our sedation dentistry team members have helped you to rest comfortably and offered you a warm and cozy blanket, our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, will again review your health and dental information. You will then be provided the oral sedative (in pill form). The medication should cause you to feel relaxed so that your scheduled dental procedure can be completed safely and comfortably.
During your sedation dentistry procedure, your pulse, blood pressure and vital signs will be continually monitored by our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson.
After your oral sedation dentistry appointment.
After your oral sedation dentistry appointment, Dr. Dirk Thompson, our Calgary dentist, will assess your vital signs to ensure that you have sufficiently recovered from the effects of the oral sedation such that you can be discharged from our office to the care of your escort. Your escort will be provided with written post-sedation instructions as well as our Calgary dentist’s cell phone number so you can reach him after regular business hours in the event you have any concerns whatsoever.
Here is some important information to know following your oral sedation appointment.
Prior to being discharged, our Calgary dentist will provide you and your escort with post-oral sedation instructions. These instructions will also be provided to you prior to your oral sedation appointment so you will know what to expect when you arrive home.
Do not plan to drive home, walk or take a bus following your oral sedation appointment. Arrangements for an escort to take you home and stay with you until the effects of the oral sedation have worn off must be made prior to your oral sedation appointment.
Plan to take the rest of the day off and possibly the next day to recover from the effects of the oral sedation medication and your dental treatment.
If you have any concerns whatsoever after arriving home, do not hesitate to call our Calgary dentist office or our emergency phone number provided to you and/or your escort.
- Find out which type of sedation dentistry is right for you.
Dr. Dirk Thompson, our Calgary dentist, provides both oral sedation and IV sedation services. Learn more about oral and IV sedation dentistry by clicking below.
RELAX.
We've Got You Covered.
If you’ve been putting off dental treatment because of fear of dental procedures or anxiety about what your dental team may think, our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, and our entire dental team recognize that taking that first step to better dental health can be daunting.
At Advance Your Health Dental, we are judgment free and provide our dental services in a relaxed and positive atmosphere. Our compassionate and understanding Calgary dentist team encourages candid conversations about your oral health and is committed to ensuring you thoroughly understand all sedation dentistry options available to you to help make your dental treatment as comfortable and as stress-free as possible.
Let’s start your journey to better dental health, together. Call us today to find out more about our sedation dentistry services.
Things To Think About
Before Sedation
follow all instructions
There are important steps you must take in preparation for oral sedation, including fasting and avoiding certain foods and medications. Please note that, if you do not fast as instructed by Dr. Dirk Thompson, our Calgary dentist, for your safety, your appointment will have to be rescheduled.
During Sedation
know what to expect
Everyone responds differently to oral sedation. Some patients may fall asleep, some may only feel relaxed, and for some patients, oral sedation may be ineffective. If the desired level of sedation cannot be reached with oral sedation, our Calgary dentist may suggest you explore other types of sedation dentistry, such as IV sedation.
After Sedation
planning ahead is essential
You must make arrangements for someone to take you home and stay with you after your sedation appointment until the effects of the oral sedation have worn off. You should also plan to not go to work or school for a day or two after your Calgary dentist sedation appointment to allow sufficient time for you to recover from the effects of the sedation.
