What is Dentistry Asleep®?

Dentistry Asleep® describes a variety of special techniques that allow you to receive treatment in comfort by promoting a peaceful state of relaxation or sleep.

Many people, both adults and children are not comfortable having dental treatment completed with local anesthesia alone.

In fact, surveys done in Ontario indicate that if given the choice, most people would prefer to have an alternative to “just freezing” to be more comfortable during extensive dental procedures. Many patients who delay getting the necessary treatment do so because they are unaware of the option to sleep through it all!

As a Certified Specialist in Dental Anesthesia I can offer you a full range of sedation techniques from mild sedation, such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas), to moderate sedation with intravenous sedation and finally completely sleep while undergoing any dental procedure…even routine oral hygiene.

Being asleep for dental treatment in my office is different than a hospital setting general anesthesia. Generally I use a few medications at lower dosages making it a milder alternative to traditional hospital based general anaesthesia.

These techniques and special medications promote light or deep sedation, or light levels of general anesthesia, and thereby eliminate the pain and stress that make many people anxious about dental treatment. They also allow you to receive multiple procedures in a single visit. Dentistry Asleep® is unlike hospital general anaesthesia in that it is lighter and less stressful on your body.

Can my child benefit from Dentistry Asleep®?

If your child requires extensive treatment, Dentistry Asleep® can allow more treatment to be done in one session. This means fewer visits to the dentist.

If your child is frightened, or has difficulty at the dentist, Dentistry Asleep® can help them receive quality dental care while avoiding the sensations and discomfort that contribute to anxiety and stress.

Is Dentistry Asleep® safe?

This is a common question, and the answer is that Dentistry Asleep® is exceptionally safe. The rigorous controls and precautions that we maintain make its safety similar to that of local anaesthesia (freezing) alone. In fact the safety of Dentistry Asleep® is comparable to that of such common activities as automobile or commercial air travel.

Who can benefit from Dentistry Asleep®?

If you’ re a busy patient, Dentistry Asleep® provides the benefit of completing more procedures in each session. This means that extensive treatment can be completed with fewer visits.

If you feel anxious about dental visits, or often gag during treatment, Dentistry Asleep® can help by letting you avoid the discomfort that contributes to anxiety and stress.

If you have certain medical conditions—such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, or hypertension—the stress reduction and close patient monitoring of Dentistry Asleep® can actually make treatment safer.