At La Puente Dental Center, Dr James E. Dickey offers safe sedation dentistry for kids and adults of all ages.

If you are one of the many individuals who suffers from anxiety over visiting the dentist, then sedation dentistry may be your answer.  Dr James E. Dickey and his caring staff will do everything possible to change your outlook on visiting the dentist.

Dental sedation does not put you “to sleep,” but instead, it puts you in a relaxed state that allows your dentist to provide necessary care. Dental sedation uses anesthesia in a variety of ways to help adults and children who suffer from dental anxiety.

Your comfort during your visit to La Puente Dental Center is very important to us. We believe no patient should have to feel anxiety or pain during their dental treatment.

Dr. James E. Dickey is educated in the protocols for providing oral sedation dentistry to La Puente.

What is Oral Sedation Dentistry?

Oral sedation dentistry is a medical procedure involving the administration of oral sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a dental procedure and reduce patients’ fear and anxiety related to their experience.

Why Should Oral Sedation Dentistry be Considered?

Consider oral sedation dentistry if:

• You are fearful or anxious of dental treatment and dental instruments – “Dental Phobia”.
• Multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments.
• Local anesthetics do not have a numbing effect on you.
• You have sensitive gag reflex.
• You suffer from any physical conditions, such as neck or back pain, which could lead to discomfort while sitting in a dentist’s chair.

How is Oral Sedation Taken?

This involves a simple pill, taken orally the night before your appointment and the day of. Although our patients are not unconscious with oral sedation dentistry, they are in a complete state of relaxation similar to sleep and do not feel pain. We monitor our patients throughout the procedure and assure their safety.

In many cases, oral sedation dentistry has an amnesiac effect on patients, and they remember little to nothing of their dental treatment, almost as if they were asleep.

I.V. Sedation

We offer IV sedation for a number of reasons.  Fear, Anxiety, or to obtain a large amount of dental work performed at one appointment.

The procedure is very much like a hospital setting.  Dr. Dickey establishes an IV site (usually in the bend of the arm) through which he administers a medical fluid as a constant drip and also the sedative drug.  During the sedation you will be asleep but breathing on your own while being monitored for the following:

Blood pressure
Pulse rate (heart rate)
Oxygen saturation in the blood
Body temperature
Blood-glucose levels
Ventilation using wireless medical stethoscope

In addition, everyone in the office is trained in CPR and BLS (basic life support).

Dr. Dickey has also been certified in ACLS (Advance Cardiac Life Support).

The office, in addition to the proper monitoring equipment, has a fully equipped crash cart (emergency cart with all the emergency equipment and drugs), similar to the one you would find in the hospital.

IV Sedation requires a consultation prior to the actual sedation to evaluate the medical history of each patient, to determine the safety on an individual basis for an in office sedation.