Sedation Dentistry
in Downtown Ottawa

Oral sedation & nitrous oxide for dentistry in
Downtown Ottawa & surrounding communities.

two dentists work on a sedated patient

Sedation Dentistry for Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is common and can show up as fear, nervousness, or stress about dental visits. When anxiety causes you to delay checkups or treatment, small issues can become more complex over time.

Sedation dentistry may help you feel calmer and more comfortable during your appointment. If dental anxiety has been keeping you from getting the care you need, our team can talk through your options and help you feel more at ease while we monitor and protect your oral health.

We’re an Ottawa Dental Practice Passionate About
Treating Our Patients Like Family

Experts in Diagnosis

Patients count on our experience & expertise for accurate & diagnoses.

Advanced Specialty Training

Our doctors have a depth of training for advanced dental care.

Highly Experienced Dental Team

Our experience translates to a smooth, seamless patient experience.

Helping Maintain Your Teeth

We want to be your partners in dental health.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you feel calm and relaxed before and during dental treatment. Depending on the type of sedation used, you may feel mildly relaxed or more drowsy, and some patients remember little of the appointment. Sedation is often combined with local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during treatment.

Sedation dentistry may be helpful if you experience:

  • Dental anxiety

  • A strong gag reflex

  • Sensitive teeth

  • Fear of needles

  • Difficulty sitting comfortably for longer appointments

  • A more complex procedure, such as surgery or endodontic treatment

  • Multiple treatments planned in one visit

Your dentist will recommend the appropriate type and level of sedation based on your needs and medical history.

A dentist explains a procedure to a patient at Pretoria Bridge Dental

The Different Types of Sedation in
Sedation Dentistry

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas and is administered through a face mask or nosepiece. This gas allows you to feel more relaxed when inhaled and can work as quickly as three to five minutes. With nitrous oxide, the dentist controls the amount of sedation used throughout the appointment or procedure. This is a short-term type of sedation dentistry so you can actually drive yourself home after your treatment!

IV Sedation

This is the deepest form of conscious dental sedation. A sedative medication is delivered directly into your bloodstream through an IV line. Most people who receive this form of sedation have little or no memory of the treatment once they wake up.

General Anesthesia

This is occasionally used under certain circumstances, but would not be used in a dental office setting. These situations occur in a hospital and it’s the only type of sedation when the patient is fully unconscious.

Oral Conscious Sedation

This type of dental sedation is administered in the form of oral medication. It is typically in pill or liquid form and is taken approximately an hour before the appointment so it has time to take effect. This type of dental sedation can make you feel drowsy and you might even fall asleep. This is a longer-lasting method used for sedation dentistry so you will not be able to drive yourself home as you might with laughing gas.

Sedation Dentistry FAQs

When performed by experienced dental professionals, sedation dentistry is quite safe. That being said, there is always a risk involved with receiving anesthesia. This risk is greater if the patient is obese, or has obstructive sleep apnea. These patients should consult with their doctor and dentist before having sedation dentistry performed.

Nitrous Oxide or “Laughing Gas” is considered the safest and least invasive form. Although sedation dentistry is very safe for patients, you might still experience a few effects after the treatment. Some of these include lingering drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, headaches, or bruising from the IV insertion.

Depending on the dental office or situational circumstances, a particular drug can be chosen out of a few different options. Some of the most common drugs used for IV sedation in sedation dentistry include benzodiazepines, opioids, and propofol.

Deep sedation in dentistry refers to the state of being in between consciousness and unconsciousness during a dental procedure. Deep sedation is similar to general anesthesia.

Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure. Failing to comply will result in the surgery being cancelled and you will need to reschedule. It is also important to bring a list of medications and drugs you are taking to the appointment for your dentist to review. If your sedation dentistry appointment is with Pretoria Bridge Dental, we can go over everything you need to know before the treatment.

With oral sedation dentistry, expect to orally ingest medication in the form of a pill or liquid approximately one hour before your procedure or appointment. Once an hour is passed, you might feel drowsy and even fall asleep. This is a longer-lasting method used for sedation dentistry so you will not be able to drive yourself home as you might with laughing gas.

Depending on the type of sedation used, you might recover immediately after your appointment or it could take a day or two. With laughing gas, you will be able to drive yourself home after your appointment. With oral sedation and IV sedation, you will need someone to drive you home. The patient’s natural tolerance to the sedative and metabolism can also play a role.

No. When sedation dentistry is performed properly, you will not feel pain. The staff at Pretoria Bridge Dental dentists are expertly qualified to perform sedation dentistry. Rest assured, you will not feel any pain when we perform the procedure.

Dental sedation will cause you to feel calm, drowsy and tingly. You will experience minor amnesia as well. Within minutes of receiving the sedative, you will experience a full-body euphoria where you will feel no pain and be completely at peace.

What Do I Need to Bring to the
Initial Consultation Appointment?

A list of medications you are currently taking
Your health card or driver’s licence
Your dental insurance information
Pretoria Bridge Dental's team
Dental program cards or stubs
The referral note from your dentist, if you were given one
Any X-rays your dentist has given you

Pretoria Bridge Dental Is Built On The Trust & Care
We Have For All Our Patients

Hours & Contact Information

(613) 236-5202
(613) 236-5206
[email protected]
223 Echo Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 1N2
Office Hours
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • 7:30am – 4:30pm
  • 7:30am – 4:30pm
  • 7:30am – 4:30pm
  • 7:30am – 4:30pm
  • 7:30am – 3:00pm
Parking

We have two free parking spaces in our clinic lot. Also, there are three parking spaces at the Ottawa Chinese Bible Church (on the corner of Main and Graham). On Graham Avenue you will find two-hour parking available; while there is also parking on Hawthorne Street from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and then again from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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