Sedation Dentistry and Sleep Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry Serving Alexandria, Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, DC Areas

We understand that most dental procedures can be pretty uncomfortable and even though a dentist may not be trying to hurt you some things can be unexpected and painful.  Northern Virginia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Charles Varipapa takes your comfort seriously and that is why sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry have been made available to all of our patients.  The pain and discomfort of regular dental procedures has held back many Americans from achieving goals of having healthy teeth and beautiful smiles for decades!  As a member of the ADSA (American Dental Society of Anesthesiology) Dr. Varipapa and Team have trained to be prepared for your sedation visit and to listen to you and hear your concerns and fears of dentistry and treatments.  You are not alone, over fourteen million people avoid dental treatment because of fears from poor treatment in their youth and young adult life.

Let me help you understand your choices when it comes to Dental Sedation and Sleep Dentistry.

There are several choices you can make with the doctor regarding your dental treatment and sedation during that treatment.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral Conscious Sedation involves taking a pill or pills orally, often in the evening prior to your treatment and in the morning just prior to your treatment.  These medications can range from anti-anxiety type drugs like Xanax to stronger drugs that totally sedate you so that you are unaware of any procedures but conscious enough that you can be awakened easily.  These medications can be given in conjunction with Laughing Gas or Nitrous Oxide for an even more heightened sedation and higher degree of comfort. During your sedation you will be kept comfortable by doctor and team with soothing back ground music of your choice, head and neck pillows, warm blankets and a caring environment.  Your bad dental memories will be replaced with no memories at all of your dental visit and you will awaken with a beautiful and healthy smile.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Laughing Gas or Nitrous Oxide is a unique sedative agent that can be used by itself to put you in a state of extreme comfort where you have limited memory of you dental experience. You enter a sleepy state where you are not focused on your dentistry but in a relaxed euphoric state where you may not care about anything at all. When it is used by itself it is quickly filtered out of your system and you are back to normal within minutes. You can drive home after nitrous oxide alone but you can't drive after other forms of sedation.  It is also used along with/at the same time as oral sedation to bring you to an even higher level of "sleep".  Nitrous oxide is available to all of our patients for both simple and more complicated procedures.  We will help you understand the differences even better and choose the right sedation for your procedure.

I.V. Sedation

We employ a General anesthesiologist for those patients who want to be completely anesthetized during their dental procedure. This is the same type of anesthesia used in hospitals for out-patient procedures.  You will be completely asleep under I.V. Sedation.  As with other sedations your vital signs will be monitored throughout your procedure.   This is the highest level of sedation available in the dental setting where you are completely asleep and not aware of what procedure is being done for the length of the time you are here.  Like the other procedures you will need a friend or family member to drive you home and you will wake up with  the beautiful and healthy smile you have longed for but had been afraid to pursue!  Your mouth is not a place for on-the-job training.  Call us for more information and a private appointment with Dr. Varipapa to have all of your questions answered and put together a plan to keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.  Call us now at 703-299-9899 for answers to more of your questions.