Sedation Dentistry is the use of safe pharmacological methods to help patients relax and manage pain, fear, and anxiety during dental procedures. Whether you experience minor nervousness or severe dental phobia, Prime Smile Dental offers various levels of sedation to ensure your comfort. Our goal is to make every visit stress-free, allowing us to perform necessary treatments efficiently and helping you overcome any barriers to receiving optimal oral care.
Sedation can be tailored from gentle relaxation to a deeper, more drowsy state, depending on your comfort level, anxiety, and the complexity of the procedure. At Prime Smile Dental Clinic, sedation and pain control are planned carefully and monitored throughout your visit by our trained dental team.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation (Laughing Gas)
For patients who experience dental anxiety, we provide mild sedation with Nitrous oxide. This inhaled sedative promotes a calm and relaxed feeling while you remain conscious and able to communicate. It is safe, effective, and its effects dissipate quickly after treatment.
Moderate Sedation (Oral Sedation)
Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed medication (commonly from the benzodiazepine family) before your appointment. It typically makes you feel sleepy and deeply relaxed. You can still respond to instructions, but many patients remember little of the procedure. For safety, you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home.
Local Anesthesia (Numbing)
Local anesthesia is the foundation of comfortable dentistry. A numbing medication is applied and/or injected directly in the treatment area to block pain signals. While it isn’t sedation, it is often used alongside nitrous oxide or oral sedation to keep treatment as comfortable as possible.
Sedation effectively calms nerves and induces a state of deep relaxation, allowing fearful patients to complete necessary treatment.
For patients with a hypersensitive gag reflex, sedation helps suppress the reflex, making X-rays, impressions, and complex work manageable.
Allows the dentist to complete multiple procedures in one longer appointment (like multiple fillings or extractions), minimizing the number of visits required.
When combined with local anesthesia, sedation ensures you do not feel pain during the procedure and remain comfortable throughout.
Patient safety is our top priority for every sedation method:
Step 1Health Evaluation and Planning
We review your medical history, current medications, and the complexity of the procedure. We determine the safest and most appropriate sedation level for you.
Step 2Administration and Monitoring
The chosen sedation method is administered. Throughout the procedure, we continuously monitor your vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, using sophisticated equipment.
Step 3Treatment and Local Anesthesia
Once you are relaxed, local anesthesia is administered to eliminate pain. The dentist then performs the planned restorative or surgical procedure.
Step 4Recovery and Release
(Nitrous Oxide) The gas is turned off, and you recover quickly. (Oral Sedation) You are monitored until safe to leave, and a responsible adult must drive you home and stay with you for several hours.
Sedation is an excellent option for patients who experience:
Individuals who feel panic, nausea, or debilitating fear when visiting the dentist.
Patients whose gag reflex makes receiving treatment or taking X-rays difficult or impossible.
Those requiring extensive or lengthy procedures, such as multiple extractions, deep cleaning, or multiple crowns.
Patients who have trouble achieving or maintaining numbness with standard local anesthesia alone.
The cost of sedation dentistry in Aurora depends on the type of sedation recommended and the length and complexity of the procedure being performed. Pricing can vary based on factors such as your medical history, the level of anxiety or gag reflex concerns, the treatment time required, and whether sedation is used for one procedure or multiple treatments in a single visit.
At Prime Smile Dental in Aurora, Ontario, we begin with a consultation to understand your concerns and determine whether sedation is appropriate and safe for you. We explain the recommended option, what to expect before and after your visit, and provide a clear estimate in advance. Our team can also help review insurance and CDCP information and explain expected costs whenever possible.
Sedation dentistry at Prime Smile Dental is planned under the guidance of Dr. Shideh Khalilakbar, our lead dentist. Dr. Khalilakbar takes a calm, patient-first approach and works closely with you to reduce stress and make dental care more manageable. She reviews your health history, discusses your comfort goals, and explains the sedation option recommended for your needs—so you feel informed and supported throughout the process.
Choosing a dental clinic is about more than services, it’s about feeling comfortable, informed, and confident in your care. At Prime Smile Dental in Aurora, we focus on clear communication, a calm environment, and consistent clinical standards for every patient.
We take time to listen to your concerns, explain findings in plain language, and walk you through treatment options so you can make informed decisions.
We accept CDCP and work with most dental insurance plans. Our team can help you understand coverage, billing, and expected costs before treatment whenever possible.
From a welcoming atmosphere to a gentle approach, our team works to make appointments feel calm and manageable—especially for patients who feel anxious about dental visits.
We use updated tools and thorough assessments to support accurate diagnosis and thoughtful treatment planning, with your long-term oral health in mind.
No. With minimal and moderate sedation, you are conscious and able to respond to commands, though you will be extremely relaxed and may feel sleepy. Full general anesthesia (unconsciousness) is reserved for hospitals or surgical centers.
Yes, Nitrous Oxide is very safe for children. It wears off immediately after the mask is removed, and there are no lasting side effects, making it ideal for pediatric procedures.
Absolutely not. The effects of the medication last for several hours. You must have a responsible adult drive you to and from the appointment and monitor you at home until the effects fully subside.
No. Local anesthesia is administered once the sedation has taken effect, ensuring the treatment area is completely numb. The sedation manages the anxiety and awareness, not the pain itself.
If dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or past experiences have made visits difficult, book a sedation dentistry consultation at Prime Smile Dental in Aurora. Call the clinic or request an appointment online to discuss options and plan a comfortable visit.
