Interactive sedation guide
Walk through the same questions a sedation consult would cover, anxiety level, procedure, medical history, preferences, and we’ll recommend the option that fits you, with cost, recovery, and what each one feels like.
Final sedation choice is made with your dentist. This tool helps you start the conversation with the right context. For IV or general anesthesia, our in-house anesthesiologist reviews your medical history before the appointment.
Reference
Five options span from local anesthetic alone all the way to general anesthesia under our in-house anesthesiologist. The interactive tool above weighs your specific situation against each.
A topical numbing gel and local anesthetic injection, the standard for routine appointments. Most patients are fully comfortable with no additional sedation.
Best for Cleanings, exams, simple fillings or crowns when anxiety is low.
A safe, fast-acting gas inhaled through a soft nasal mask. You stay conscious and conversational, but the world feels lighter and pain awareness drops away. The effect ends within minutes of removing the mask.
Best for Mild dental anxiety, sensitive gag reflex, longer or more uncomfortable procedures (deep cleanings, root canals, single extractions).
A pill (typically Halcion or a similar benzodiazepine) taken about an hour before the appointment. You're drowsy and very relaxed but can still respond. Most patients remember little of the procedure afterward.
Best for Moderate anxiety, multiple procedures in one visit, or longer surgical appointments where you want to feel detached but not unconscious.
Sedative medication delivered through an IV line by an in-house anesthesiologist. Onset is rapid, depth is precisely titrated to the moment, and you typically have no memory of the procedure afterward.
Best for Severe anxiety, long surgical appointments, multiple implants, or any complex procedure where comfort and lack of memory are priorities.
Full unconsciousness, with the airway monitored and managed by an in-house anesthesiologist. Used for the most complex full-mouth procedures or when extreme dental phobia makes lighter sedation impossible.
Best for Full-mouth reconstruction, multiple complex extractions, severe dental phobia or trauma history, or any case where IV sedation is insufficient.
Your fee is quoted in writing at your consultation, before any treatment.
The right level depends on three things: how anxious you feel about dental visits, how complex the procedure is, and your medical history. Mild anxiety with a routine procedure usually needs no sedation or just nitrous oxide. Severe anxiety or long surgical procedures often call for IV sedation or general anesthesia. The interactive selector above weighs all of these factors and produces a recommendation, but the final decision is always made together with your dentist.
Yes, when administered by trained providers with proper monitoring. Nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation have been used safely for decades in routine dental care. IV sedation and general anesthesia involve deeper sedation and require an anesthesiologist or specially certified provider, Smile Science has an in-house anesthesiologist on staff so we can offer the full sedation spectrum safely without referring out.
Only with general anesthesia. Nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation keep you awake and able to respond to questions, just very relaxed. IV sedation puts most patients in a twilight state where they can follow simple commands but typically have no memory of the procedure afterward. General anesthesia is full unconsciousness and is reserved for the most complex cases or severe phobia.
For nitrous oxide, no, the effects wear off within minutes and you can drive yourself. For oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia, yes, you must have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for a few hours. Plan this in advance; sedation appointments are not rescheduled day-of for transportation issues.
Your treatment plan will include specific fees before any work begins. Some medical insurance covers IV sedation and general anesthesia when medically necessary; dental insurance rarely covers sedation but our in-house membership plan reduces the cost.
Most patients with stable cardiac or respiratory conditions can safely receive IV sedation when an anesthesiologist is involved. Our in-house anesthesiologist reviews your full medical history before the appointment, coordinates with your physician when needed, and provides continuous monitoring throughout the procedure. This level of medical oversight is the main reason we can offer IV and general anesthesia in-office rather than referring patients to a hospital.
