SEDATION

• Minimal sedation is used most frequently with Laughing Gas (mixture of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen). All bodily functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on his or her own. The patient may respond normally to verbal commands with less anxiety and may experience some degree of amnesia about what happened during their dental appointment. The patient can drive home by himself or herself after.
• Moderate sedation is achieved by using medications that can be taken orally in combination of Laughing Gas. Patients who undergo moderate sedation will experience a depression of consciousness but respond purposefully to touch and/or verbal commands without anxiety. The patient may experience a higher degree of amnesia. All bodily functions remain normal, and the patient does not need assistance breathing. However, patients must have an escort to drive him or her home after.