Sedation dentistry in Kitchener is becoming a popular thing. For a long time, anxious patients and those living with dental phobia either toughed it out through treatment or avoided the Dentist altogether. Fortunately, options for having a calm dental experience are now widespread and more readily available. Patients can maintain their oral health without fear and anxiety as an obstacle!
So what is Sedation Dentistry? How does it work? What is the cost? And who provides sedation dentistry in Kitchener? Let's go through some commonly asked questions to reach a better understanding of sedation dentistry.
Most Kitchener Dental Clinics now provide at least 1 light sedation option such as nitrous oxide or "laughing gas". A smaller percentage of Dentists will have undertaken special training to provide moderate sedation using oral sedatives. Other Dentists that perform lots of surgical work will typically offer intravenous sedation including general anesthesia.
Many local dental specialists such as Oral Surgeons and Periodontists also offer sedation dentistry in Kitchener.
Dental sedation is defined as a drug-induced alternate state of consciousness that enables dental treatment. More plainly, sedation involves using different medical compounds to relax you for treatment. Patients more commonly inquire about dental sedation for longer, more challenging appointments such as for root canal treatment or dental extractions.
The degree of relaxation can differ. In some cases (like with nitrous oxide or "laughing gas"), you remain conscious but experience extreme relaxation. In other cases, a moderate intravenous sedative can make you feel very "whoozy" such that you are awake but cannot really maintain a conversation. At the most extreme end of this spectrum is General Anesthesia, under which your are unconscious. Generally, as you get into stronger modes of sedation, your health risks go up.
Please visit our Dental Sedation & Anxiety Management page for more details on sedation dentistry in Kitchener.
If you are exploring sedation options for dental treatment, you can get a cost estimate from your Kitchener Dentist. Additionally, you can ask your Dentist to submit a pre-determination to your insurance provider to find out if you have sedation coverage. Keep in mind that not all insurance plans cover sedation and so it is important to know about any out of pocket costs you may incur.
It is also important to keep in mind that sedation fees differ depending on who is providing treatment. Specifically, a General Dentist's sedation fee will be lower than that of a Dental Specialist.
Generally, the Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide dictates sedation fees based on the number of 15 minute units of time across which sedation is administered. For example, 1 unit of nitrous oxide sedation (15 minutes) costs approximately $85. Your Dentist will be able to estimate the number of units necessary to complete treatment and therefore sedation cost.
Thank you for reading this week! I hope you have found this article to be helpful.
If you would like to discuss dental sedation or arrange a no-charge Meet & Greet appointment with me, give us a call at (519) 576-8160 or request a consult here.
Our Kitchener Dentists are conveniently located in Downtown Kitchener and we are a short drive away for families in Kitchener, Waterloo, Breslau & Stratford.
This article is meant to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics and ai is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Accordingly, always seek the advice of your Kitchener Dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental condition or treatment.
