540-672-3715
Orange Family Dentistry
111-B Spicers Mill Road
Orange, VA 22960

Sedation

Levels of Sedation
There are four levels of sedation that patients should be aware of. Most patients may require no sedation for most any procedure. Some may require no sedation for simple procedures but a minor level of sedation for more complex procedures would be beneficial. Some would benefit from sedation if the procedure to be completed would take several hours or more. This is an overview of the levels of sedation and the first two are offered at our office.

1. Anxiolysis - this is the lowest level of sedation that may be appropriate for certain patients or procedures.  The patient is awake but has a decreased level of anxiety.  An example of this level of sedation may be acquired with a single dose of medication (such as valium) before the appointment.  The patient is able to maintain their own airway and respond to verbal and physical stimuli.
2. Conscious Sedation - this is a minimally depressed level of consciousness/sedation whereby the patient maintains their own airway and reflexes, and has the ability to respond to physical and verbal stimuli.  This level of sedation often includes medication the night before an appointment, before the appointment, and during the appointment.
3. IV/Deep Sedation - this is a deeper level of consciousness/sedation whereby the patient may not respond to physical or verbal stimuli, may not maintain their own reflex mechanisms, and may need assistance in maintaining their own airway.  This level is often utilized with oral surgeons for the extraction of wisdom teeth.
4. General Anesthesia - this level of sedation renders a patient unconscious so that they do not maintain their own reflexes, do not maintain their own airway, can’t respond to physical or verbal stimuli, and can’t breathe on their own.  This level of sedation is more common with other surgical procedures such as hip, thoracic (chest), abdomen, back, and many others.
   

Dr. White’s training in sedation was acquired through the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. All staff members are trained in CPR and Dr. White is ACLS certified (Advanced Cardiac Life Support).  All patients requiring any level of sedation are monitored with a pulse oximeter that measures the pulse, oxygen saturation in the blood, and blood pressure.  Any level of sedation requires the patient to have someone else available at the office for other proposes such as driving them home and post op instructions.