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To our patients, our office will be CLOSED from Monday, July 5th through Friday, July 9th for a much needed vacation!
We look forward to seeing you when we return on Monday, July 12th.

- Dr. Steinbach

Sedation Dentistry in Basalt, CO

Let Us Help Relieve Your Dental Anxiety 

Neglecting the dentist can be extremely harmful to your oral health and overall well-being. Even with impeccable oral hygiene habits, some spots on your teeth just can’t be reached without specialized dental tools, for patients who suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia even the thought of seeing the dentist can invoke feelings of fear, discomfort, or panic. Our team understands, and we strive to make our patients feel as comfortable as possible which is why we offer sedation dentistry to help calm your worries so you can receive your necessary dental care. 

Visiting the dentist shouldn’t have to be scary which is why, at Elevate Dental Wellness, your comfort is a high priority. Thanks to our convenient Basalt, CO office, we can provide comfortable treatment to patients in Aspen, Wingo, Snowmass, El Jebel, and the surrounding areas.

Related

Oral Surgery

General Dentistry

Elevate Dental Wellness

711 East Valley Road
Suite 201A
Basalt, CO 81621

Get Directions

(970) 279-5647

Request Appointment

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses specialized medication to relax patients so they can attend their dental appointments without fear. We want to ensure that you feel comfortable and don’t experience any pain or stress throughout your visit. There are many reasons our patients ask for sedation at Elevate Dental Wellness. Along with being scared of the dentist, other reasons people use sedatives include:

  • Complex surgeries
  • Multiple treatments in one appointment
  • Previous traumatic dental experience
  • Intense gag reflex
  • Phobia of needles and shots
  • Difficulty getting numb
  • Nerves from the sight, smell, or noise of a dental office

Types of Sedation

Depending on your needed dental treatment, there are different options for sedation that we offer. Drs. Van Gorden and Steinbach want to assure you that each sedative is administered safely with expert knowledge and compassionate care.

Inhaled minimal sedation: Also known as nitrous oxide or laughing gas, you’ll inhale this gas mixed with oxygen through a mask and notice a transition into a more relaxed state. We can control the amount of sedation you inhale and when your treatment is complete, the gas will wear off quickly.

Oral sedation: Depending on the dose given, you’ll take medication that’ll either leave you relaxed and awake or take a larger dose that can put you to sleep. While under oral sedation, you’re still capable of being awakened easily if we need to ask you questions or need you to reposition.

Intravenous sedation: This form of sedation is given through an IV that’s placed in your vein. It allows the sedatives to take effect much quicker and we can continuously adjust the amount given throughout your procedure.

Deep sedation and general anesthesia: Both these types of sedation will make you nearly or completely unconscious and asleep. These medications will eventually wear off and you’ll feel like yourself again.

Levels of Sedation

Here at our Basalt office, we offer four levels of sedation to ensure every patient feels comfortable during their visit. These various levels include:

  • Minimal sedation: With minimal sedation, patients are awake but relaxed. Dentists commonly use nitrous oxide (laughing gas) during the procedure, or oral sedation, which requires the patient to take a pill about an hour before the procedure.
  • Moderate sedation: Oral sedation is also an option for moderate sedation, though patients take a larger dosage the night before and the day of to get to the level they need. Another option is an IV that delivers sedatives through a vein to start working more quickly.
  • Deep sedation: Medications given to the patient get them close to complete unconsciousness.
  • General anesthesia: With general anesthesia, the patient is completely unconscious.
Our anesthesiologist Dr. Mark Young

Meet Our Anesthesiologist

Dr. Mark Young is a board-certified Anesthesiologist with 20 years of experience and more than 10 years of experience providing office-based anesthesia in the Roaring Fork Valley. He’s fellowship-trained in pediatric anesthesia and enjoys helping patients of all ages.

Dr. Mark works with patients to design an individualized plan that makes patient safety and comfort a top priority. He also takes environmental impact into account. Dr. Mark uses anesthetic gas with the lowest carbon footprint and carbon filters all waste gas. He uses supplies that are DEHP-free and participates in recycling programs whenever vendors offer them.

When he’s not helping patients to feel safe and comfortable, Dr. Mark enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities and loves spending time with family and friends. In quieter moments, he enjoys cooking, playing guitar, woodworking, and chess.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect with dental sedation?
Will I feel any pain during the procedure?
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?

What can I expect with dental sedation?

Depending on the type of sedation you receive, you can expect a few different things. With oral sedation or nitrous oxide, you’ll feel completely relaxed and stress-free while staying awake.

If you receive IV sedation, which is the strongest form of conscious sedation, you should expect to have moderate to high levels of amnesia during the procedure. You also may feel drowsy after the procedure, so it is required that you have a driver to take you home.

Will I feel any pain during the procedure?

In most cases, patients do not feel anything during the procedure. With the help of sedatives and any numbing anesthetic used, you’ll likely be comfortable and calm throughout your treatment.

If you do experience any discomfort, it’s expected to occur at the end of your procedure when the sedatives wear off, as well as throughout your recovery period.

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Yes, sedation dentistry is safe, especially when given by experienced dentists and on-staff anesthesiologists. However, in some cases, obese individuals or sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) should discuss all potential complications of sedation with Dr. Van Gorden and Dr. Steinbach beforehand to ensure their safety.

Am I a good candidate for sedation dentistry?

A good candidate for sedation dentistry is anyone with dental anxiety or phobia. If you have any of the following fears or concerns, talk with us about our sedation options:

  • Fear of needles and/or shots
  • Had a traumatic dental experience in the past
  • Can’t handle the smells or noises of being at a dentist’s office
  • Have overly sensitive teeth, a strong gag reflex, or trouble getting numb
  • Require a more complex dental treatment
  • Wish to have a more comfortable dental treatment

Elevate Dental Wellness Can Ease Your Nerves

Our doctors want all of our patients to receive the required care to sustain their oral health without fear. If you’re a Colorado patient in Aspen, Wingo, Snowmass, El Jebel, and the surrounding areas struggling with dental anxiety, visit Elevate Dental Wellness. We’ll find a sedation option that works best for you and your unique situation so that you can get the dental care you deserve. Call us at (970) 279-5647 or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule your appointment with Dr. Steinbach. We look forward to serving you.

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