Some people hesitate to schedule a dental appointment because they are afraid or become anxious before and during their appointment. At Flintridge Dental Studio, we offer Sedation dentistry to help patients overcome their fears and have a stress-free experience.

The priority of the staff at our La Cañada Flintridge facility is to make our patients comfortable and safe. We take the time to discuss your concerns regarding the use of anesthesia. At Flintridge Dental Studio, our staff is trained in administering sedations such as oral, intravenous sedation, general and local anesthesia.

Oral Sedation is a good alternative for patients who fear needles. When prescribing your medication, the doctor will consider your medical history and overall health. The sedative will be administered as soon as you arrive at the office because it usually takes 20 minutes to take effect. Oral Sedation reduces your anxiety to help make you relax. You will be able to respond to simple commands given to you by the staff.

Intravenous Sedation is another sedative used at our Flintridge office. Typically, IV sedation is administered for shorter procedures. The sedative is administered by injection directly into the bloodstream, which takes effect immediately. You will feel sleepy and groggy once the IV sedative is removed. The office will instruct you to bring a designated driver with you to your appointment.

General Anesthesia is used if extensive dental work is needed and when no other form of sedation is enough to overcome your fear sufficiently. While under general anesthesia, you are in a deep sleep and cannot be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. You will need to have someone come with you to the appointment to drive you home.

Local Anesthesia is the most common anesthetic used by dentists today. The dentist will inject Lidocaine into your gum or inner cheek to numb the part of the mouth being treated. The doctor will first dry the injection site with air or cotton, and then swab the area with a gel that numbs the skin. Then, the dentist will inject the local anesthetic slowly. You will feel a sting, which is the anesthetic moving into the tissue. Local anesthesia can last up to several hours. You may have some difficulty speaking and chewing until the sedation wears off.

For more information on Sedation Dentistry, call Flintridge Dental Studio at (818) 814-9732.