Conscious Sedation Dentistry

Southern California including Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, Beverly Hills, Valencia and Hollywood, California

Conscious sedation dentistry—also called oral sedation dentistry—can benefit patients beyond those who have anxiety over visiting the dentist.

Santa Clarita dentist Dr. Dell Goodrick is pleased to offer conscious sedation dentistry in the relaxed setting of A Unique Dental Experience. Conscious sedation allows you to feel at ease and comfortable through an entire dental visit without the use of intravenous (IV) sedation or experiencing a lack of consciousness.

How Conscious Sedation Works

During an initial consultation to determine if you’re a candidate for conscious sedation, Dr. Goodrick will review your medical history, your overall oral health and any current medications you’re taking. If conscious sedation is suitable for you, we will schedule your dental appointment and prescribe a sedative pill for you to take prior to your visit.

The prescription will put you in a state of deep relaxation for your dental visit. You will be awake and able to breathe freely, but you will feel mellow and groggy. The sedative has an amnesiac property, and most patients have little to no memory of their visit.

As with any sedation procedure, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Dr. Goodrick will thoroughly discuss additional guidelines with you during your initial consultation.

Who Can Benefit from Conscious Sedation

Patients who can benefit from conscious sedation dentistry include those who:

• Experience fear or anxiety over going to the dentist
• Have a strong gag reflex
• Require extensive work in a single visit
• Suffer from extreme tooth sensitivity
• Have a fear of needles, which are used in IV sedation dentistry
• Suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD) or other conditions that make it difficult to hold the mouth open for extended periods

Conscious sedation dentistry is painless and safe for most patients. It is effective for those with mild to moderate anxiety. Conscious sedation is a less expensive alternative to IV sedation, and it allows you to have multiple procedures performed in a single visit.

If you would like to learn more about conscious sedation dentistry, please contact Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Dell Goodrick at A Unique Dental Experience.