Sedation Dentistry:
Why us?
Advanced Smile Care was one of the first dental homes to incorporate sedation dentistry, starting in 2000. Since then our San Antonio dentists have performed over 5,000 sedation cases and helped thousands of patients overcome their fears to receive the dental care that they need in a comfortable, relaxed state. The Advanced Smile Care dentists and team members are specially trained to administer sedation dentistry to our patients in four different ways – nitrous oxide, blue pill, IV, and general anesthesia. We love helping people who haven’t been to the dentist in years get over their anxiety and restore their smiles.
Did you know that nearly 30% of Americans are afraid of the dentist? That’s millions and millions of people who avoid dental care at all costs, even when they are in pain or discomfort.
Want to know a secret, though? Dentistry does not have to be painful or scary. Going to your local San Antonio dentist can be a relaxing experience through sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry allows us to offer safe, effective, and comfortable treatments to all of our patients – especially those who are anxious and fearful.
Our Experience:
The dentists at Advanced Smile Care have been focusing on patients with a fear of the dentist for years. In 2000, we became one of the first dental homes in San Antonio to offer sedation dentistry to our patients. Together we have performed sedation dentistry on thousands of patients who wanted to have a more pleasant experience at the dentist’s office and we continue to make it a priority to this day. Our staff is specially trained to make your sedation experience as comfortable and as safe as possible, and our dentists and hygienists have years of experience in performing anxiety-free dentistry. So if you are a patient who experiences anxiety about visiting the dentist, or you just can't seem to find the time for multiple appointments, choose comfortable sedation dentistry. Dr. Crouch, Dr. Kboudi and the Advanced Smile Care Team are looking forward to taking care of your dental needs in comfort.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Oral sedation dentistry is now the most common technique used in the United States and Canada to quell patient fears. The technique is easy and requires no needles. Best of all, the medications create such a comfortable experience that most patients do not remember the visit; and some even sleep through the treatment! While sedation dentistry has occasionally been called “sleep dentistry”, it is not something that is promised. While some fall asleep, many don’t. In reality, oral sedation dentistry maintains a level of consciousness in the patient for safety and cooperation, but relaxes them and makes it unlikely that they will remember much about their treatment. 
We also offer other levels of sedation such as nitrous oxide. More commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a mild form of sedation dentistry that offers a state of relaxation to the patient. A stronger form of conscious sedation dentistry is IV sedation dentistry. In this method the patient receives the sedatives through an IV, and the effects are stronger than that of oral conscious sedation. The chance for sleep increases (but still is not guaranteed), while the dental anxiety levels rapidly decrease. Our strongest form of sedation is general anesthesia. General anesthesia sedation dentistry is what is practiced in hospitals and puts the patient in a state of unconsciousness during the procedure.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform. Sedation dentistry is perfect for patients who experience anxiety or fear when they sit in a dental chair since it alleviates their fears and relaxes them before they enter the room. Also, as a result of removing the anxiety tied to the dentist’s office, sedation dentistry patients are less likely to neglect their oral health or allow oral health problems to build to the point when drastic dental treatments become necessary.
Another great advantage of sedation dentistry is that it saves you time! Complex dental procedures such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can now be performed in one or two appointments. If you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you don’t have the time to make multiple trips to the dentist, sedation dentistry is your answer – all while making you feel comfortable during the treatment process.
