Services / Patient Comfort
Sedation Dentistry
If the dentist makes you anxious, you don’t have to push through it. Dr. Karbasi offers two ways to help you feel calm in the chair: nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation, an anti-anxiety medication you take before your visit. With either one you stay awake and able to respond, just far more relaxed.
Who sedation helps
Sedation can make care easier if you feel nervous about dental visits or have put off treatment because of fear, have a strong gag reflex, find it hard to sit still or get numb, or need a longer appointment, such as several fillings or crowns in one visit.
Nitrous oxide and oral sedation
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
- Breathed in through a small mask over your nose
- Takes effect within a few minutes, and we adjust the level as we go
- Wears off within minutes once the mask comes off
- Most adults can drive themselves home afterward
Oral sedation
- A prescription anti-anxiety medication, such as triazolam, taken before your appointment
- A deeper sense of calm than nitrous oxide; many people remember little of the visit
- Effects last several hours, so someone must drive you to and from your visit
- Plan to rest at home for the rest of the day
Sedation helps you relax, but it doesn’t replace numbing. Dr. Karbasi still uses local anesthetic for the area being treated, so you stay comfortable throughout.
Is sedation right for me?
Before recommending sedation, Dr. Karbasi reviews your health history and every medication and supplement you take. Oral sedatives such as triazolam can interact with other medicines, including certain antibiotics, antifungals and HIV medications, and with alcohol, opioid pain medicine, sleep aids and grapefruit juice. They’re generally avoided during pregnancy, and some conditions, such as untreated sleep apnea or certain lung or liver problems, may rule them out. Nitrous oxide isn’t right for everyone either, for example in early pregnancy, with some lung or sinus conditions, or after certain eye surgeries.
Before and after your visit
Oral sedation: take the medication exactly as directed, arrange for a responsible adult to drive you and stay with you afterward, and skip alcohol. Don’t drive, operate machinery or make important decisions for the rest of the day.
Nitrous oxide: a light meal beforehand is usually fine, and most people return to their normal day right after the visit.
Tell us what makes you nervous
Sedation isn’t the only option. Many patients feel better with a walkthrough before each step, an agreed stop signal, short breaks, headphones, or a shorter appointment. Let our team know what worries you when you call, and we’ll plan your visit around it.
Related Services
Nervous about a visit?
Call us and ask about sedation. We’ll talk through your options and what to expect before you book.
This page is general education, not personal medical or dental advice. Dr. Karbasi will recommend what’s appropriate after reviewing your health history and medications.