Sedation dentistry in Abbotsford: oral sedation and nitrous oxide
If going to the dentist makes you anxious, you are not alone, and it is something we plan for. Tsang Family Dentistry offers two kinds of sedation in our Abbotsford office: nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Both are arranged with your dentist ahead of time, so the first step is a conversation, not a procedure.
The two options we offer in the office
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is breathed through a small mask over your nose together with oxygen. Within a few minutes most people feel calm and a little detached from what is going on, while staying awake and able to talk to your dentist. When the treatment is finished you breathe oxygen for a few minutes and the effect wears off quickly, so most people drive themselves home. A few people notice mild nausea; tell us if that has happened to you before.
Oral sedation
Oral sedation is a prescribed tablet taken before your appointment. It makes you drowsy and relaxed, and many people remember little of the visit afterwards. You stay conscious and can respond to your dentist throughout. Oral sedation is arranged at an exam first: your dentist reviews your health history and medications, decides whether it suits you, and goes through the instructions, including when to take the tablet, when to stop eating, and that someone must drive you home and stay with you afterwards.
Who asks for sedation
- dental anxiety, or a bad experience at a dentist in the past
- a strong gag reflex
- long appointments, such as several fillings, a crown or an extraction done in one visit
- difficulty sitting still for a long stretch
Your dentist may also suggest it when a treatment plan is large and you would rather finish it in fewer visits.
What a sedation appointment looks like
It starts with an exam. If you are new to the office, your first visit is an exam without treatment, which is the right time to raise this. Your dentist talks through the options, checks your health history and books the treatment visit with the sedation planned in. On the day, we go over the instructions again before starting, keep an eye on you throughout, and stay with you afterwards until you are ready to leave. With oral sedation, your ride takes you home.
Cost and coverage
Sedation is billed as its own item in line with the BC fee guide, and we tell you the cost before you book. Many dental plans cover some or all of it; our front desk can confirm what your plan covers, and we bill most plans directly.
Questions people ask
Will I be asleep? No. With both options you stay conscious and can respond to your dentist.
Can I drive afterwards? After nitrous oxide, usually yes. After oral sedation, no: someone must drive you home and stay with you.
Do I need a separate visit first? For oral sedation, yes, an exam comes first. Nitrous oxide can often be added to a visit that is already booked; ask when you book.
Can I book it in the evening or on a Saturday? Sedation appointments follow our regular hours, including evenings until 7:00 pm Monday to Thursday and Saturdays 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Talk to us first
Tell us what worries you and we will plan around it. Request an appointment online, call (604) 853-1388, or find us on our contact page. If you are in pain right now, see our emergency page.