Sedation Dental Care at Southcenter Dental in Tukwila!

Here at Southcenter Dental in Tukwila, we've had a lot of nervous patients come through our doors over the years! If you need to undergo an unfamiliar dental procedure, like a root canal or extraction, we want to make sure your visit is as comfortable as possible. That's why we're pleased to offer sedation dentistry options to our patients!

Sedation dentistry is a way to take care of a patient's dental needs in the most comfortable way possible. It allows patients who have high anxiety or require a complex procedure to be able to accomplish their oral health goals in a safe and relaxing way. Patients of ours to benefit from sedation dentistry usually have a fear or anxiety of going to the dentist, a hard time sitting still for periods of time or a hard time getting (and staying!) numb from anesthetics. Here at Southcenter Dental, we offer sedation dental care for each of our procedures.

There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, like:

  • No memory of undergoing the procedure
  • No sense of time while under sedation
  • No sense of smell or sound
  • And best of all, no fear or anxiety during treatment!

If this sounds like it could benefit you, don't be shy about asking Dr. Austin Baruffi about making your next visit with us more comfortable for you!

What types of sedation dentistry are available to me?

At Southcenter Dental in Tukwila, WA, we offer nitrous sedation, oral sedation, and IV sedation.

  • Nitrous sedation, also known as laughing gas, can be used in any procedure from a simple cleaning to oral surgery. It works great to alleviate some anxiety and patients regularly ask for it to make their appointment more enjoyable.
  • Oral sedation involves the patient taking a pill that will make them sleepy and often times the patient will remember very little of the appointment. Due to the sedative nature of the pill, you will need someone to accompany you to your appointment because you will not be able to drive. This is also a great option for patients afraid of needles!
  • With IV sedation, we can make you feel even more relaxed and the patient will often take a nap. Your dentist will gently place an IV needle and administer medication to help you into a deeper state of relaxation. Your dentist can also administer some extra medications to make the healing process after the procedure to be a fast and smooth as possible, like medicine to help you sleep the night before or some nitrous sedation before we begin. Unlike deep sedation, with IV sedation the patient is still breathing on their own while they sleep so there is no tube down the throat needed to keep the patient safe. You will still be conscious and responsive but you will be in a deep state of relaxation. To ensure your safety, before you are sent home, Dr. Baruffi will confirm that most of the medications have worn off to ensure your safety but you will probably feel a little drowsy for the rest of the day.

How long has Dr. Austin practiced sedation dentistry?

Dr. Austin Baruffi has trained with dental anesthesiologists for more than five years performing all levels of sedation dentistry, including general anesthesia. He has even taught courses on sedation dentistry to dentists from all around the world, in addition to consistently taking continuing education courses in IV sedation.

There is a chance that if you get sedated by another dentist, that dentist might have been trained by Dr. Austin Baruffi! He has also taken extra classes to keep his patients safe such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and taught classes on Basic Life Support. You can be certain that your safety and comfort will be taken care of at Southcenter Dental!

Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?

Good question! Sedation dentistry is a great option for almost everyone. Small children, people older than 85 and people with complex medical histories might not be a candidate, but it is perfectly safe for the vast majority of people.

To see if you are a good candidate, come in to the office for a free consultation! We will go over your specific sedation dentistry needs and determine what type of sedation best fits you. It also allows you to take some time with your dentist to get to know more about the sedation procedure and have all of your questions answered.

Is there anything I should do to prepare for my appointment?

Our number one goal with sedation dentistry is safety. In preparation for your appointment, it is important to not have any food or liquid 8 hours before your appointment. Also, you cannot operate a car after your sedation dental procedure, so someone close to you gets to be your chauffeur for the day! Before we send you home, we'll confirm that most of the medications have worn off, but you may feel like taking a nap for the rest of the day.

If you think sedation dentistry could help you, give us a call at (206) 575-1551 or request a free consultation online today!

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