Sedation Dentistry
Dr. Friedman and his team have received extensive training in sedation dentistry. Only 1% of the dentists in the country are actually qualified in this conscious sedation dentistry, and patients come from all over Southern California to San Diego to be treated using this comfortable, safe and effective system.
What is Sedation Dentistry and Why is it Used in Dentistry?
The medication used for sedation "sleep" dentistry is called Triazolam. It is a small blue pill that is crushed and mixed with a flavored mint for taste. Dr. Friedman places the crushed granules under your tongue for simple absorption. The patient then relaxes in one of our dental suites. The medication takes about 40-50 minutes for the patient to feel calm and relaxed. This tablet has been prescribed over 10 million times per year, by physicians, for patient's use at home. The drug has almost no side effects or interaction with other medications you may currently be taking. Sedation dentistry allows you to comfortably undergo everything from a simple cleaning to extensive treatment. For those with severe dental anxiety, dental sedation can be the answer to receiving the dental care you need and have often neglected.
Benefits of sedation dentistry is that the medicine has an amnesia quality which for most patients, tends to prevent almost any memory of the visit. It is sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry" because of this and its other pleasant effects.
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It enhances effectiveness of anesthetic.
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It decreases gagging.
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It decreases joint and muscle soreness.
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Allows more treatment to be provided in less visits and less time in the chair.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe? 
The patient is constantly monitored with a computerized pulse oximeter, which measures heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. We also have a reversal agent on hand that reverses the effect of the sedation medicine in less than 30 seconds. We have treated several patients with this conscious sedation technique and find it very comforting for our dental phobia patients are even for patients that need extensive treatment.
If you would like to find out more about sedation dentistry, phone the office today. Jessica will be more than happy to discuss your options and answer any of your questions.