Dental on Central is committed to providing compassionate quality care for all patients. We are a family practice, with a multidisciplinary approach, which means that all our providers work together as a team in the diagnosing and treatment of each patients oral health needs.

Our team of best-in-class providers includes multiple specialists, physicians, general dentists, nurses, hygienists, and support staff all in one location. Many of our team members, including Dr. Anthony Herro, are faculty at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health.

We take a unified team approach to oral health care at Dental on Central. Our general dentists, specialists, physicians, nurses, hygienists and auxiliary staff work together with the diagnosing and treatment of all of our patients. We find that this multidisciplinary approach allows for the highest level of clinical treatment. The various perspectives and abilities of each of our providers result in truly comprehensive care that is consistent and repeatable. We work as a team from the simplest cases to the most complex treatment needed.

For some of these circumstances, sedation dentistry may be a viable solution. However, there are many questions and apprehensions associated with the practice that may prevent those in need of dental care from properly seeking it out.

Sedation dentistry is a form of dentistry in which patients are given medication in order to promote relaxation during any dental procedures. In previous years, sedation dentistry had commonly been known as sleep dentistry. However, most patients who undergo sedation dentistry are awake for their procedures patients are only given general anesthesia and rendered unconscious for very specific, serious circumstances.

Inhaled sedation is a form of minimal sedation in which patients breathe in a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen to make them feel more relaxed. Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is breathed in throughout the procedure via a mask that is placed over a patients nose. Dentists can easily control the dosage, increasing and decreasing as needed.

Oral sedation is the most common type of sedation in dentistry. It involves the ingestion of medication that relaxes you. In sedation dentistry, the medication most often used is Halcion, a drug that is in the same family as Valium. Although patients usually take oral sedation in a pill format, those who may have trouble swallowing pills such as younger children and those with special needs may take oral sedation through a liquid form.

Oral sedation may take some time to take effect in patients, which is why it is usually administered an hour before a procedure. It can induce minimal to moderate sedation in patients, depending on the dosage given. Even minimal sedation levels can make many patients groggy and in some, may even cause them to fall asleep during the procedure. However, its important to make a distinction between this and losing consciousness.

IV sedation allows dental professionals to administer drugs through the veins for continuous medication. Because the drugs are administered directly to a vein, they take effect much more quickly than oral sedation.

IV sedation can induce anywhere from moderate sedation to general anesthesia, depending on the dosage. It is most commonly used to induce a form of deep sedation also known as twilight sedation, in which a patient is completely conscious and responsive, but may give off the notion that they are sleepy, groggy, or unconscious.

Additionally, sedation dentistry may also be reserved for those who need extensive dental procedures completed. This can include orthopedic surgery, advanced dental work, or other procedures that require the patient to sit for long periods of time.

Special needs patients may arguably benefit the most from sedation dentistry. This unique group of prospective patients can include anybody with any behavioral, physical, or cognitive impairments or disabilities that can otherwise prevent them from seeking dental work.

Sedation dentistry is especially beneficial for special needs patients because it enables those with special needs to receive the dental care they need. Some patients who have cognitive impairments or physical disabilities may not be able to sit still for long periods of time in a dentists chair. Some dental offices use restraints, belts, and boards to keep their younger special needs patients restrained and still during a procedure but some argue that this may further exacerbate the fears and trust put into a dentists hands. Sedation is a more viable alternative that allows patients to be compliant for the duration of the procedure, without increasing tensions and stress between the patient and the dental professionals on hand.

Additionally, it can allow those with special needs to receive preventive care before any dental issues degrade into more serious problems. Many with special needs may not be able to effectively communicate any dental issues they may experiencing until they have worsened into more severe issues. Sedation dentistry allows these patients to receive routine check-ups without having to worry about further, more serious pain down the line.

In general, sedation dentistry has been proven to be safe for most patients, as long as the dental professionals on hand take all the necessary precautions. All experienced dental professionals understand that there may be special considerations to make when special needs patients are sedated. There may be many risk factors in administering sedation to special needs patients that must be taken into consideration, including:

Following these provisions can be difficult, especially in those who are more temperamental such as younger children and those with special needs. However, these provisions are paramount in providing a comfortable experience for patients and minimizing complications throughout a procedure.

Generally, sedation dentistry is partially covered by a patients dental insurance plan. The actual dental work and procedures may be covered, but the costs involved with sedation typically are not. Most, if not all, plans consider sedation as a luxury or an optional practice, and therefore is excluded from coverage.

However, sedation may be covered if it is deemed a medical necessity due to a pre-existing medical condition or disability that prevents a patient from getting dental care without it, such as those with special needs. This may depend on your dental plan, so it is highly recommended to consult your provider for any concrete details.

More and more dental offices beginning to offer sedation dentistry procedures under minimal to moderate sedation. However, not all dental offices may have the proper training, experience, or overall conduct with patients who require sedation dentistry. In fact, only a tiny percentage of dentists have completed the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) program for deep sedation.