Sedation Dentistry
Have past experiences made you nervous to go to the dentist? Have you put off necessary dental hygiene or repair because of misery you have suffered in the past? Visiting Dr. Cooke is never like that. You can rest assured in making your first appointment that you will see what difference it makes in seeing a truly caring, compassionate dentist who employs the best comfort technology available to treat patients in a very relaxed manner.
Our office looks forward to showing you how easy and comfortable it is to have what you need done with the use of dental sedation. You won’t mind coming in at all! Making our patients comfortable and relaxed is what we are known for!
Sedation dentistry can be very helpful to patients who need an involved, complex procedure, Dr. Cooke says. Just a small amount of sedation can bring the perfect amount of relaxation needed to get the procedure done and leave the patient stress-free.
Our staff pledges not to create a fearful or stressful environment for any patient. We completely understand that someone may have had a very unfortunate experience with a less-skilled provider in the past. New patients always tell us how comfortable they were with our gentle-touch practice! We are happy to have that reputation and make it our goal to be sure your visit is as pleasurable as possible.
There are four types of sedation that Dr. Cooke offers, depending on the individual patient’s need.
Nitrous Oxide Gas – This option features Dr. Cooke seeping a completely odorless gas through a face mask, allowing you to feel a deep sense of relaxation and comfort. This option is beneficial because you are able to communicate with Dr. Cooke easily and he can adjust the sedation level as needed. Another great feature of this type of sedation is that when the procedure is done, it wears off quickly. Most individuals are able to drive themselves home following their treatment if they prefer. Dr. Cooke says this sedation method is a safe alternative for both children and adults.
Oral Sedation - A gentle sedative in an oral pill form that is sent home with you can be prescribed by Dr. Cooke before your scheduled procedure. After discussing your individual situation with Dr. Cooke, it can be prescribed in a small or a moderate amount, depending on the level of anxiety you may be experiencing. While the patient is still able to communicate with Dr. Cooke under this option, it takes longer to wear off than the nitrous oxide gas, so we do exercise caution and ask that you have a driver to take you home after your appointment.
IV Sedation – Known more commonly as “Twilight Sleep,” a deeper sedation method is achieved by Dr. Cooke bringing in an anesthesiologist to collaborate in keeping you comfortable. If you are an individual who would prefer not to have any memory at all of the dental procedure you are having, this may be the best choice for you. An intravenous sedation is administered directly into the blood stream. It can be altered as needed during the procedure for the patient’s ultimate comfort. We also ask that a patient have a driver for this sedation option.
General Anesthesia – Also featuring an intravenous method of sedation, this is what is known as “Sleep Dentistry.” Dr. Cooke has an anesthesiologist at the patient’s side as well to monitor the heart rate and blood pressure as needed. It is important to note that adjustments in sedation can be made at any time. While there are more risks associated with general anesthesia, this is an option that Dr. Cooke is careful recommending as many factors have to be considered. For those who are able to have general anesthesia, it can be extremely helpful as it is the most effective way to calm extraordinary anxiety. Discussing all options available, it is Dr. Cooke’s goal to provide his patients with a safe, comfortable and efficient visit.
Dr. Cooke pays very close attention to the overall well-being and good overall health of our patients. If a patient suffers from severe anxiety in receiving dental treatments, he makes it his goal to find the best method to use in order to make them comfortable. He would like to talk with you about this. He is here to help.