Once you've experienced sedation dentistry with Shamblott Family Dentistry, you'll never be afraid to go to the dentist again.

You'll be sedated enough to be unaware of the treatment, as if you were relaxing. You'll wake up refreshed, with little or no memory of what was accomplished. Because you are completely relaxed and comfortable, Shamblott Family Dentistry can do years of dental treatment in as little as one or two visits.

We can replace crowns or dentures, restore sore gums to good health, whiten yellow or stained teeth, fix a chipped tooth...and more. People with very busy schedules can get the dental care they need, easily and quickly. In fact, complex dental treatments that often require six to eight appointments can be handled in just one appointment all while you relax. Sedation dentistry is a safe way to reduce the fatigue of extended dental treatment requiring long visits.

Image being able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain. No wonder so many patients say: "Thank you, Shamblott Family Dentistry."

Read what other patients are saying about Shamblott Family Dentistry, click here for patient testimonials.

What is Sedation Dentistry?
In our practice, the most common type of anesthesia is local anesthesia. Most patients tolerate it well, and they accept the feeling of having part of their lip or cheek numb for a dental procedure.
And yet, fear is the biggest single barrier to the delivery of quality dental care. When the stress of dental treatment is combined with dental fear, many patients find themselves unable to have dental work completed.

There are many people who require a different approach to dentistry. For the patient who fears the required treatment, sedation offers a way to get dental treatment done in a non-threatening manner. Other patients who may benefit from sedation include those who need surgical procedures or who need a lot of work done at one time.
For these situations, we offer sedation. Sedation offers the calming of a nervous, apprehensive individual through the use of medications. The use of sedation has been a very effective tool in our practice for outpatient dental care in many different situations.

How Sedation Works
At the beginning of the appointment, monitors will be attached to the patient to measure breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and EKG. Then a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will start an IV, allowing medications for relaxation to enter the body. Patients receive sedative drugs which work rapidly to create a deeply relaxed state that is maintained and monitored throughout treatment.

Commonly used drugs include Versed, Fentanyl, and Propofol, either alone or in combination. A major benefit of these drugs is amnesia – the patient will have little or no memory of the dental treatment. Another benefit of these drugs is the comparatively quick recovery time – most patients relax and have a light meal the evening following treatment.

The patient will not remember or be aware of any procedures, nor of “getting numb.”

Advantages of IV Sedation

• No memoryof your dental treatment. If you don’t want to be aware of the procedure, you “don’t want to know” and don’t want to remember – then sedation is for you. Benzodiazepines such as Versed, produce amnesia for the procedure.
• IV sedation is highly effective and extremely reliable because the onset of action is very rapid, and drug dosage and level of sedation are tailored to meet the individual's needs.
• The gag reflex is hugely diminished - people receiving IV sedation rarely experience difficulty with gagging.
• Dental phobics are happier with IV sedation.

Are you a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry ?

If you have any of the following:

• Fear of dental treatment
• History of traumatic dental experiences
• Difficulty getting numb
• Very sensitive gag reflex or difficulty opening
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Limited time to get your dental care completed
• Complex dental problems; or a need for surgery
• Above average dislike for “getting numb”
• Embarrassment about your teeth
• Denial of a dental problem until the pain is unbearable
• Have not received professional dental care in many years, perhaps decades
• Go from dentist to dentist, or doctors, to renew painkiller prescriptions for dental problems
• Often make and then cancel dental appointments
• Make numerous, lengthy phone calls to the dentist's office
• Experience sweaty palms or find yourself gripping the armrests

If you hate the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care and offices and you can't block them out, then you may want to experience “twilight sleep” while we do the work.
Recent research has indicated that the number one reason adults postpone needed dental care is fear. That's right, not time, but fear! Yet, dental decay and periodontal disease due not make exceptions.

Call Shamblott Family Dentistry today at 952-935-5599 to schedule a free initial examination and x-rays. Find out if Sedation Dentistry is right for you.

FAQs

What does it feel like?
You may not remember much about what went on because of two factors: firstly, in most people, IV sedation induces a state of deep relaxation and a feeling of not being bothered by what's going on. Secondly, the drugs used for IV sedation can produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia) for the period of time when the drug first kicks in until it wears off. As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and you will not recall much, or perhaps any, of what happened. So it may, indeed, appear as if you were "asleep" during the procedure.

What drugs are used?
The most commonly used drugs for IV sedation are benzodiazepines. IV administered benzodiazepines have three main effects: they reduce anxiety/relax you, they make you sleepy, and they produce partial or total amnesia (i.e. make you forget what happened during your dental appointment).

Will I feel any pain?
You will feel almost nothing. We even numb your skin prior to starting the IV. Most patients experience no discomfort during treatment and feel surprisingly good afterwards.

Is it still necessary to be numbed with local anesthetic? Will Dr. Shamblott numb my gums before or after I'm sedated?
While the medications relax you and make you forget what happens, you will still need to be numbed, but we will not numb you up until the IV sedation has fully kicked in. At that point you will be very relaxed, enough not to care– even if you have a fear of injections or a phobia of needles. We will wait until you are numb before starting any procedures.

Will I really be totally relaxed?
Yes. You'll receive enough medication so that you'll be relaxed and unconcerned about your dental treatment.

Will I remember anything?
Typically not. At the end of treatment, most patients have little or no memory of what happened.

What dental treatments can I have under sedation?
Any procedure that's usually done in our office without sedation – extractions, fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, and even teeth cleaning.

While you rest …

• Damaged, chipped, or broken teeth can be repaired
• Fillings can be placed
  
• Caps/crowns can be replaced to look natural
• Inflamed, diseased, unhealthy gums can be treated
• Root canals can be performed to relieve pain and treat infection
• Missing teeth can be replaced with natural looking bridges
• Smile makeovers and gum lifts can create a beautiful, confident you
• Yellowed, crooked teeth can become white and straight

Is IV sedation safe for me?
Before signing you up for a sedation appointment, we'll review your medical history and, if appropriate, consult with your medical doctor to be sure sedation is a good choice for you. It is important to advise us of all medications or drugs that you take, as well as your complete medical history, prior to beginning any dental treatment.

In our office, you’ll be constantly monitored while under sedation. Both Dr. Shamblott and the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified and all of the staff is Basic Life Support (BLS) certified. Dr. Shamblott also has a Conscious Sedation Permit from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry.

Will I be monitored?
Yes. Depending on your personal medical condition, as well as the anesthetic being used, a variety of monitors will be used. These vary from automatic blood pressure cuffs to the use of pulse oximeters, which use a light sensor to measure the oxygen concentration in your blood. An EKG may also be used. Dr. Shamblott or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will always be with you, closely observing you throughout your treatment. You are never alone.

Will my insurance cover it?
It's best to check with your dental plan provider before treatment. However, we'll review your coverage and, if necessary, make financial arrangements so you get the care you need.

How long will I be off work?
Each patient is different, so this is a difficult question to answer. We find that most patients only need to take off the day of the procedure, and are able to return to work the following day.

Why don't more dentists do IV Sedation?
To offer sedation, Minnesota law requires a dentist to have a special Sedation Permit issued by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry. The training necessary to qualify for this authorization is substantial, requiring both extensive time away from the office and significant expenses. To maintain the Sedation Permit requires ongoing continuing education.

How do I prepare for IV Sedation?
If you have been scheduled for a dental procedure using IV sedation, please follow the following instructions. Do NOT have anything to eat or drink eight hours before your appointment. Continue to take prescribed medications unless instructed otherwise by Dr. Shamblott. Bring a responsible person with you to drive you to the appointment and home after the procedure. Your driver must be in the office reception area before your sedation can be started.

How long will I be under Sedation?
The length of your appointment will depend upon the procedures being done. There will also be a recovery period of 15 to 20 minutes after the procedures are finished. Because of residual drowsiness, you will get to ride in a wheelchair to your driver's vehicle. You may not drive or operate any machinery until the day after your sedation.

Will someone need to accompany me?
Yes, due to the sedative effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to our office and home again.

Call Shamblott Family Dentistry today at 952-935-5599 to schedule a free initial examination and X-rays. Find out if Sedation Dentistry is right for you.