Bakersfield Sedation Dentist

It’s called conscious sedation. While it may seem that you are asleep, you are actually conscious and able to respond to commands. Vital functions and reflexes are fully operational. But you will likely have no memory of your dental procedure.

Along with sedation dentistry, we still apply a local anesthetic to numb the treatment areas of your mouth for a painless procedure.

Sedation Dentistry Advantages

Sedation dentistry has several advantages:

• It calms and relaxes you.
• You will be conscious and able to hear and see what is happening—and respond to it—without anxiety.
• If you need extensive dental work, it will increase your comfort and allow us to complete more dental work than we could without sedation.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

Although any medical procedure has risks, sedation dentistry has an excellent safety record. Because it reduces the stress of a dental appointment, it actually reduces the chances of an adverse incident occurring during dental care. Mild side effects can include hiccups, dry mouth, and inability to remember the procedure.

At Woolf Dental we are licensed by the state to provide conscious sedation. The Dental Board of California issues conscious sedation permits to qualifying dentists after they meet specific requirements, including:

• Successful completion of an approved sedation dentistry course
• Completing at least 60 hours of sedation training
• Successfully providing sedation for a variety of patient cases
• Participating in sedation dentistry continuing education
• In-office monitoring and safety equipment
• Passing onsite inspection and evaluation of the dental office

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation is a prescription medication taken in pill form. Woolf Dental helps you relax with the sedative, Halcion, which provides a moderate level of sedation. Because its effects will linger after your appointment is over, you need to arrange for transportation to and from our office. A responsible adult must remain at our office during your visit.

What to Expect

We will review your health history, ask for a complete list of your current medications and supplements, and ask if you are allergic to any medicines.

After discussing your concerns and listening as you describe what makes you anxious during dental appointments, we will try to avoid or minimize your anxiety triggers. A staff member will always remain with you.

• Before: One of our dentists will tell you when to take the medication so that you can arrive relaxed and ready for your appointment.
• During: Although the medication will keep you relaxed throughout the procedure, you will be able to respond to our instructions.
• After: You will still be drowsy after the appointment. It is unlikely that you will remember much—if any—of what happened during your procedure.

Will Insurance Cover the Cost of Sedation?

While most insurance plans will cover sedation, covered services vary with insurance plans. Contact your insurance provider to ask about sedation benefits, the types of sedation covered, and maximum benefits allowed.

Are You Ready for an Anxiety-Free Dental Appointment?

Woolf Dental welcomes you. Call us to schedule an appointment or complete our Request an Appointment form.