Sedation Dentistry | Family First Dentistry

4050 Lake Otis Pkwy #200
Anchorage, AK 99508

At Family First Dentistry of Anchorage, we work to make your visit as painless and stress-free as possible. We offer a variety of options ranging from local anesthesia to IV sedation. Your dentist will discuss these options with you so that you can determine which is best for you.

Intravenous Sedation

IV sedation is a service that is not offered by most dentists, and we are pleased to be able to offer it to our patients. The effects of IV sedation are similar to oral sedation. IV sedation is administered through injection and is best used for shorter dental procedures. The benefits of IV sedation are almost immediate, leaving patients feeling more calm and relaxed, and the level of sedation can be adjusted.

Amnesia is a common side effect of IV sedation and oral sedation, leading many people to believe that their procedure lasted only a few minutes.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is given in the form of a pill before a dental procedure begins to diminish sensory awareness of pain, sounds, and smells. The patient may feel sleepy, or as if they are asleep, but they are not fully unconscious.

Laughing Gas

Laughing gas is inhaled nasally prior to and throughout the procedure. People usually experience an overall feeling of relaxation, tingling, and numbness. Laughing gas is a frequently requested type of anesthesia for people who have anxieties about dental procedures. One of the advantages of laughing gas is that the degree of sedation can be adjusted. The effects quickly dissipate, so there is no problem with the patient driving home after a procedure.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is the most popular numbing treatment. It is administered via injection in the mouth. A topical anesthetic gel is swabbed on the area where the work will be done producing a numbing effect prior to injection of the anesthetic. The advantage of a local anesthetics is that the patient remains conscious and fully aware throughout the procedure. Local anesthetics are typically employed for minor dental procedures, such as cavity fillings.

If you or a loved one experiences anxiety over dental treatments, call our office today and ask about sedation options!