Sedation Dentistry in Colorado Springs
A significant number of people reading this have not seen a dentist in years. Not through carelessness, but because the idea of the appointment is genuinely difficult, and each year it gets a little harder to make the call.
If that is you, the useful thing to know is that this is common, that nobody here will make a comment about it, and that sedation exists precisely so the avoidance can stop.
Who sedation is for
- People with real dental anxiety, including those who have avoided care for years
- A strong gag reflex that makes routine work difficult
- Difficulty getting numb with local anesthetic alone
- Long appointments, or several procedures combined into one visit
- Difficulty sitting still or comfortably for extended periods
- A previous dental experience that went badly
What oral sedation actually feels like
We offer oral sedation: medication taken before your appointment, so there is no needle and no mask involved in getting started.
It is not unconsciousness. You stay awake and able to respond, but relaxed enough that time passes differently and the appointment does not register as an ordeal. Many patients remember little of it afterwards, which is generally the point.\
Is it safe?
Oral sedation has a long safety record in dentistry, and the meaningful safeguards are procedural: a full medical history including every medication and supplement, monitoring throughout the appointment, and matching the level of sedation to the patient rather than the procedure. We go through your history before anything is scheduled, not on the day.
What to expect on the day
- Specific instructions beforehand about eating, drinking and medication. We give you these when you book
- Arrange a ride home. Oral sedation means you cannot drive yourself afterwards. This one is not negotiable
- Monitoring throughout the appointment
- A short recovery period before you leave
- A quiet rest of the day. Most people are back to normal the next morning
What it costs
Sedation is priced separately from the dental work itself and varies with appointment length. Some plans cover sedation where it is medically necessary rather than elective, and we check yours before you book. The Smile 365 VIP Membership and CareCredit both apply to the treatment itself.
Comfort beyond sedation
Sedation is not the only thing that makes an appointment easier. Our VIP amenities exist for the same reason. So does being told what is happening before it happens. For a lot of anxious patients the loss of control is the harder part, and it is the easiest to fix.
Sedation for older patients
Longer appointments are harder if sitting still for an extended stretch is uncomfortable, and a great deal of restorative work in later life takes time. Sedation is often what makes it possible to combine several procedures into one visit rather than returning four times. Our page on dental care for seniors covers this alongside mobility, appointment length and how Medicare treats dental work.
Common questions
Will I be unconscious?
No. Oral sedation leaves you awake and responsive but deeply relaxed.
Will I remember the appointment?
Often only patchily, and many patients count that as the main benefit.
Can I drive myself home?
No. Oral sedation means someone else has to drive you. We tell you that when you book, not when you arrive.
I am embarrassed about how long it has been.
We see it constantly and it is not remarked on. The exam tells us what is there. How it got that way is not the subject.
Can I have sedation for a cleaning?
Yes. For some patients that is exactly how routine care becomes possible again.
Can I have sedation for oral surgery?
Yes, and it is commonly chosen for oral surgery and implant placement.
Talk to us
Call (719) 596-1230 or request an appointment online. If it is easier to start by asking questions rather than booking, that is fine. Say so when you call.