Sedation or Sleep Dentistry in Santa Barbara and Montecito

Although local anesthesia is used during most dental and surgical procedures, many treatments can be provided with the added comfort of sedation dentistry . In the dental office, physical and emotional senses are heightened with the anxieties of the dental treatment. Those anxieties may stem from local anesthesia injection, hypersensitive gag reflex, or the length and complexity of the treatment. With sedation and anesthesia you now have more comfortable options. Sedation or sleep dentistry is one of the most sought after supplemental cosmetic dentistry procedures by our Santa Barbara and Montecito patients. If you have questions about sedation or sleep dentistry, contact us today.

What is sedation and anesthesia?

Dental sedation is a semi-conscious state used in sedation or sleep dentistry that results in reduced anxiety, pain, awareness, and recall. Sedatives, such as Valium-type medications, are administered to create a relaxed environment during the dental treatment. Depending on the sedation dentistry case, additional medications similar to Brevital can be to induce anesthesia for a deeper sleep.

How is the sedation or sleep dentistry medication administered?

The sedative and anesthetic medications are typically given intravenously by Dr. Chen, our licensed anesthesiologist during a sleep dentistry appointment. Dr. Chen can precisely administer and adjust the correct amounts of medication so that you feel relaxed and comfortable. He also will use--if necessary--the IV to administer any medications, in addition to those required for the sedation dentistry procedure, you might need during your treatment.

Is the anesthesia used in sedation dentistry safe, and who is my dental anesthesiologist?

When properly administered in the correct doses, anesthesia for sedation dentistry is extremely safe. That is precisely why it is so important to have a highly trained, knowledgeable anesthesiologist. You will be in excellent hands at our Santa Barbara office with Dr. Chen, a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been in private anesthesia practice for nearly a decade. An assistant professor of medicine and anesthesiology at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Dr. Chen is committed to his patients' overall health and has a superb safety record. He completed a two-year medical residency training in anesthesiology after medical school and is a fellow of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiology and a diplomat of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology. He is also equipped and trained to handle any emergency situations.

Will I be monitored during my sleep dentistry appointment?

Depending upon the depth of sedation and your medical condition, various state-of-the-art monitors are used. These include the automatic blood pressure cuff, ECG, precordial stethoscope, and the pulse-oximeter, The pulse-oximeter measures the oxygen concentration in your blood through a light sensor. Sometimes, a capnograph may be used as well to measure your carbon dioxide levels.

In addition, Dr. Chen will closely observe you throughout your entire treatment and recovery.

More about sedation or sleep dentistry in Montecito and Santa Barbara

Contact us if you live in the Montecito or Santa Barbara areas and would like to schedule a sedation dentistry appointment at our Santa Barbara office. Or if you would simply like to find out more information regarding sleep dentistry details, available procedures, cost, and candidacy requirements, feel free to fill out our contact form or call us today.