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Dental Anesthesia
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 Professional dental care is essential for helping you maintain your optimal oral health. With many dental treatments, some form of dental anesthesia is used. Dental anesthesia is provided to ensure that you do not feel any pain during your procedures and that you can remain calm, comfortable, and relaxed. At Hillsboro Dental Center, we offer many different types of dental anesthesia, allowing us to meet your specific needs and provide you with the best care possible.
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Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is one of the most common types of dental anesthesia. It is a type of anesthesia that is designed to block pain in the area of your mouth where treatment will be performed. It works by blocking the nerves that transmit pain. This causes that area of your mouth to feel numb. Local anesthetics are available in topical form as well as injectable. Topical anesthetics are often used to soothe specific areas of your mouth or to make giving an injectable anesthetic more bearable.
Sedation
Sedation is designed to help you feel more relaxed and comfortable while undergoing dental treatment. It is often provided for patients who feel anxious or afraid of receiving care. There are a few different types of sedation options available.
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Nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation available. Known as laughing gas, it is an inhaled sedative that helps to take the edge off while you are still completely conscious. In addition to making you feel more comfortable, it also raises your pain threshold and reduces your gag reflex. Effects of nitrous oxide wear off very quickly.
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Oral sedation. Oral sedation involves taking medication by mouth. This medication typically takes about 30 minutes to begin working. With oral sedation, you are still conscious, but you are made to feel sleepy, as well as calm and relaxed. Many patients report temporary amnesia and are unable to recall parts of their procedures. The effects of this sedation can linger for several hours after treatment is over.
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IV sedation. IV sedation is a type of sedation that is injected directly into the bloodstream through a small needle. Because it is given directly into the bloodstream, it takes effect almost immediately. The effects of IV sedation are similar to oral sedation, and they linger for several hours after your treatment is complete. |
General Anesthesia
Note: We do not perform general anesthesia or IV sedation at our office, this information is just for patient information and enrichment.
With general anesthesia, you are made to sleep throughout your entire procedure. General anesthesia is administered through a needle into your bloodstream, just like IV sedation. It goes to work very quickly, putting you to sleep. You will have no recollection of your procedure at all. Throughout your entire procedure, you are monitored very closely. Your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and more are monitored to ensure that you are completely safe. When your procedure is complete, another medication is administered to wake you up. It is very common to feel groggy after treatment, and it can take several hours for the effects to wear off fully.
Dental anesthesia is a great way to ensure your optimal comfort while we perform your necessary procedures. Before you undergo treatment, your anesthesia options are discussed to help find the best one to suit your specific needs. For more information about dental anesthesia, call Hillsboro Dental Center at (503) 648-2829 today.
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Hillsboro Dental Center
Dr. John T. Roberts and Dr. Cheryl Hansen
4440 NE Cornell Rd.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
503-648-2829 |
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