Lincoln Park
939 W North Ave, Suite 890
Chicago, IL 60642
Comfort
Sedation dentistry
Sedation dentistry uses medication to reduce awareness and anxiety during treatment, either as a tablet taken beforehand or through an IV line during the appointment, so that care someone has been avoiding becomes possible.
How sedation works at our offices
Oral sedation: a tablet, and a driver
Oral sedation is a tablet taken about an hour before the appointment. You stay awake and able to answer, but drowsy and unbothered, and most people remember the visit only in patches afterwards. It suits the person who can get themselves through a cleaning but dreads it for a week beforehand, and it is the lighter of the two options by some distance. The practical catch is the one people forget: the tablet is still working when you leave, so you need someone to drive you home and you should not plan to work that afternoon.
IV sedation: twilight, and how it is monitored
IV sedation goes through a line in the arm and is adjusted during the appointment rather than fixed by whatever a tablet does on its own. Most patients describe it as twilight, not unconscious but with little memory of the procedure afterwards, and it is the usual choice for longer surgical work such as wisdom teeth or implant placement. You are monitored throughout, you fast beforehand, and you need a driver. What we do not do is general anesthesia, which belongs in a hospital or a surgical center, and we will tell you that rather than stretch to it.
Whether you need sedation at all
Sedation earns its place when it gets someone through care they have put off for years, and it is worth skipping when it is not doing anything. Plenty of fillings and extractions need nothing beyond local anesthetic, and there is no version of this where we default you into sedation because it makes the appointment easier for us. There is also a middle ground people overlook: a longer appointment, headphones, and a dentist who explains each step and stops when you raise a hand solves more anxiety than it gets credit for. Say so at the consultation and we will price both.
Who it's a good fit for
- You want sedation dentistry because dental visits make you anxious enough to delay care
- You have a strong gag reflex that makes appointments hard to get through
- You need several procedures done and want to finish in fewer, calmer visits
- You need more than local anesthetic alone for comfort during treatment
- You want a relaxed visit where you can still respond if we need you to
What to expect
- Pre-visit consult: medical history review and sedation option that fits your case
- Day of visit: arrive with a driver; oral pill or IV sedation depending on plan
- During treatment: vitals monitored while you stay relaxed but responsive
- Same-day recovery at home; most people feel normal by the next morning
- Follow-up call from our team to confirm you're doing well
Common questions
- Will I be unconscious?
- No. Neither oral nor IV sedation puts you under general anesthesia. With oral sedation you're awake but very relaxed. With IV sedation you're in a 'twilight' state where you usually don't remember the procedure, but you're breathing on your own and able to respond.
- Is sedation safe?
- Yes, when administered by trained clinicians with proper monitoring. We review your medical history, current medications, and any allergies before recommending an option. Vital signs are monitored throughout.
- Can I drive myself home?
- No. Both oral and IV sedation require a friend or family member to drive you home and stay with you for several hours after. We'll confirm your ride before scheduling.
- Does insurance cover sedation?
- Sometimes. IV sedation for surgical procedures is often partially covered. Oral sedation for routine work usually isn't. We'll verify benefits before scheduling and give you a clear cost.
- I'm pregnant. Can I have sedation?
- We avoid elective sedation during pregnancy. For urgent care that can't wait, we'll coordinate with your OB. Routine work is usually safest in the second trimester with local anesthetic only.
- Is sedation dentistry FSA or HSA eligible?
- Yes, when used as part of a medically necessary or surgical procedure. Oral and IV sedation for wisdom-tooth removal, implant surgery, or complex restorative work are eligible expenses under FSA and HSA accounts. Purely elective sedation (e.g. anxiety relief during a routine cleaning) sometimes isn't, so we'll clarify before you submit.
Book a consultation
Available at both offices. Pick the one that's closer to you.
Schaumburg
501 W Golf Rd, Ste B
Schaumburg, IL 60195