
Sedation Dentist New York, NY

If you need to have dental work completed, we recommend visiting a sedation dentist. At Laura Torrado DDS, FAGD, we offer sedation dentistry for patients living in and around the New York area. We understand that for millions of adults, visiting the dentist can be an overwhelming or frightening experience due to dental anxiety. This common condition typically starts by a negative experience or becoming fearful of the general idea of dentistry. While common, you do not have to be concerned about visiting our dentist office because we can ensure your comfort the entire time.
When you schedule an appointment with us, let us know if you have dental anxiety so that we can prepare for your visit accordingly. For many people, the actual procedure is not uncomfortable but it is the anxiety and worry that causes angst. With this in mind, we often prescribe an oral sedative or laughing gas that can be administered prior to the appointment to help a person relax. While this is not a pain killer, it eases the fear and relaxes the body so that you can remain peaceful while having teeth cleaned, or dental work performed. While the dosage is different, laughing gas can be used on both children and adults so that all of our New York patients can remain comfortable.
Intravenous Sedation
At the Central Park South dentistry practice of Dr. Laura Torrado, we go above and beyond to provide completely comfortable dental care for every patient we treat. One way we make this possible is by offering a wide array of sedation dentistry options. Many dental practices provide nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, but our Central Park South practice provides the advanced intravenous (IV) sedation. The deep sedative effect earned it the nickname “twilight” sedation because patients remain awake and responsive while still achieving complete relaxation during the most advanced treatments. Dr. Torrado has completed advanced training in order to safely provide IV sedation in our conveniently located Manhattan dental office. If you experience dental anxiety or phobia, have sensitive teeth or gums, or need advanced treatments, IV sedation may be right for you. Contact our team to find out more or schedule an appointment today. We look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals in complete comfort.
Oral Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a great option for patients who experience severe dental phobia. Taken in pill form about an hour before your appointment, oral conscious sedation allows patients to attain optimal relaxation before they ever leave home for their appointment. Oral sedation is a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous oxide but slightly milder than IV sedation. Oral conscious sedation is long lasting, so patients who choose this sedative option will need to have a friend or family member drive them to and from our office. Throughout the procedure, patients remain conscious and able to respond to questions. However, they will be relaxed and free from pain, and many patients also report not remembering their visit. After treatment, patients should refrain from driving or operating other heavy machinery for at least 12 hours. Plan to return to regular daily activities 12 to 24 hours after your final dose of sedative. Contact Dr. Lora Torrado and her dedicated Central Park South dentistry team to find out more schedule an appointment.
Nitrous Oxide – Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide is one of the longest used forms of sedation. This gas is inhaled through a nasal mask and induces a feeling of euphoria that earned it the nickname laughing gas. Some of the reasons nitrous oxide sedation is still so popular include:
- The level of sedation is easily adjusted and quickly takes effect to ensure the optimum level of comfort throughout and treatment
- The sedative wears away as quickly as it takes effect, so patients can return to their daily activities right away
- Throughout the course of treatment, patients remain alert and able to respond to questions
This mild form of sedation allows patients to experience a greater level of comfort and relaxation with minimal side effects. If you’d like to find out more about sedation dentistry options from Dr. Laura Torrado and her Central Park South dental team, call our office any time. We’ll be happy to walk you through all of your sedation solutions and answer any questions you may have.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
There are various levels and types of sedation. During your consultation, we will discuss the recommended procedure with you along with any anxieties you may have. At that time, a recommendation will be made for the type of sedation you may want to consider. The ultimate decision is up to you based on how you believe you will handle the procedure. In many cases, our patients simply need to relax and prefer to use laughing gas in order to do so. It is quick, effective, and wears off when the procedure is finished without impairing any other bodily functions. Some patients use this to relax when getting their teeth cleaned since there is no actual pain associated with the treatment.
When a cavity is being treated or other minor dental work performed, patients may prefer to use a combination of laughing gas and localized pain medication. After numbing the surface of the gums, we can inject pain medication that numbs the area that is being worked on. As a sedation dentist, this is an effective tool for us to prevent and eliminate any discomfort. We can administer as much medication as is necessary throughout the course of the treatment, and only that specific area will remain numb. The benefit of this type of sedation is how localized it is. For example, if a cavity is being treated on one side of the mouth, the other side will remain fully functional. This way you can eat immediately after the treatment while the numbing effect wears off the other side.
If a more intensive procedure is required, patients may prefer IV medication for a more thorough effect. When sedation is administered through this means the numbing effect is more pervasive and not confined to that one specific area of the mouth. It is extremely effective and as a sedation dentist, we find that many of our patients request this type of medication because they want to ensure that they do not feel anything while having dental work performed. If this is the case, the effect can still wear off fairly quickly after the treatment is over, but we do recommend having a friend or family member drive you home just in case.
Check out what others are saying about our sedation dental services on Yelp: Sedation Dentist New York.
For those needing oral surgery, total sedation may be necessary or preferable. This is often referred to as sleep dentistry because a patient is put to sleep and will not remember anything from the procedure. As a sedation dentist, we find that this is an excellent solution when a patient is getting a full smile makeover. When the majority of teeth are being worked on, the procedure can take a significant amount of time. We need to do dental work with precision and that requires not rushing through the procedure. With that in mind, our New York patients may find it difficult to hold still when the treatment lasts longer than an hour or two. Going to sleep is a much better option because your body will naturally remain still, you will feel comfortable and not remember what took place during the treatment. If this is your preferred method of sedation dentistry, we will monitor you carefully during the treatment and afterwards to ensure that the anesthesia wears off like it should. You will also need to have someone drive you home and may feel slightly sluggish for the remainder of the day. These types of procedures typically call for rest and relaxation anyway, so take it easy at home before resuming normal activity the next day.
Getting Started
If you live in the New York area and are interested in visiting a sedation dentist, call (212) 548-3263 to schedule your appointment. At Laura Torrado DDS, FAGD, we will take the time to get to know you and understand what all of your concerns are prior to making a formal recommendation as to the type of sedation dentistry that you should consider. We will also need to know if you have any other health issues, risks, or are allergic to anything. Typically, if you have responded well to pain medication or sedation in other medical treatments, you will do well with sedation dentistry and not experience any negative side effects. Still, if you have questions or concerns be sure to discuss them with us. With any type of dental work, it is important to be well informed and make a decision that you feel is best for your health and your goals. As such, we want you to be an informed and educated patient.
Thanks to modern technology, if you are afraid of having dental work done or visiting the dentist in general, you no longer have to be. As a sedation dentist, we can ensure that your experience is a positive one. Call 212-548-3263 for more information or to get started.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015
About our business, license, and website security
- Laura Torrado DDS, FAGD was established in 1989
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- We serve patients from the following counties: New York County, Kings County, Bronx County, Richmond County, Queens County
- We serve patients from the following cities: New York, Manhattan, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, West New York
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