Aster Dental Centre offers sedation consultations in Edmonton for patients who may need additional support during dental care. The appropriate option, if any, depends on your health history, medications, treatment needs, and clinical assessment.
The team reviews your medical history and planned treatment, explains the recommended approach, and provides clear preparation and aftercare instructions. Follow all instructions about food, drink, medication, transport, and support after the appointment.
Aster Dental Centre currently offers two sedation options for Edmonton patients. Nitrous oxide (commonly called laughing gas) is administered through a small mask placed over the nose and produces a feeling of calm and mild euphoria within a few minutes. It is safe, adjustable in real time, and wears off within minutes of the mask being removed. Most patients who receive nitrous oxide can drive themselves home afterward.
Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed anti-anxiety medication approximately one hour before the appointment. It produces a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous oxide. Patients remain awake and able to respond to the dentist throughout but may have little memory of the procedure. A responsible adult must drive the patient to and from the appointment.
Sedation dentistry at Aster Dental Centre is appropriate for patients with mild to moderate dental anxiety, patients with a strong gag reflex that makes standard treatment difficult, patients undergoing lengthy procedures who want to minimize stress, children who are unable to cooperate with standard care, and patients with special needs.
At the consultation, the dentist reviews your medical history, current medications, and the procedure planned before recommending a sedation option. Patients with certain medical conditions, including respiratory conditions, may not be suitable candidates for nitrous oxide and will be directed accordingly. Oral sedation is not recommended for patients who cannot arrange transportation home.
Both nitrous oxide and oral sedation are safe when administered by trained dental professionals following clinical protocols. At Aster Dental Centre, vital signs are monitored throughout any sedation appointment. Nitrous oxide has a 150-year safety record and is routinely used in dental practices and hospitals worldwide.
Oral sedation uses benzodiazepine medications that are well-studied and reversible. The dosage is calibrated to the patient's weight and health history. Dr. Bhanushali and Dr. Bhanushali both maintain current certification in sedation administration. If you have specific medical concerns about sedation, bring a list of your current medications to the consultation.
Yes. Aster Dental Centre offers nitrous oxide for children experiencing moderate dental anxiety and oral sedation for children requiring more significant support. Both are safe and fully monitored throughout the appointment. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly so children can typically return to school the same afternoon. For oral sedation, a parent or guardian must remain at the clinic and arrange transportation home.
Patients who receive nitrous oxide only can typically drive themselves home after the gas is turned off and a few minutes of recovery have passed. Patients who receive oral sedation must arrange for a responsible adult to drive them to and from Aster Dental Centre. Oral sedation effects can persist for several hours and impair driving and judgment. Do not book an Uber or taxi alone for oral sedation appointments.
Nitrous oxide at Aster Dental Centre is available as an add-on starting at approximately $100 CAD per appointment, depending on duration. Oral sedation costs vary based on the medication prescribed and appointment length. Some Canadian dental plans provide partial coverage for sedation. The team will confirm costs at the consultation and check your benefits before the appointment.
No. Neither nitrous oxide nor oral sedation renders patients unconscious. Both options keep you awake and able to respond to the dentist throughout the procedure. Nitrous oxide produces a deeply relaxed, mildly euphoric state. Oral sedation produces a drowsy, calm state where patients often have limited memory of the procedure afterward. General anaesthesia, which does produce unconsciousness, is not offered at Aster Dental Centre.
Sedation at Aster Dental Centre can be used for virtually any dental procedure, including routine cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, crown preparations, and implant consultations. There is no minimum procedure complexity required to request sedation. If you are anxious about a cleaning, sedation is an entirely reasonable choice.
Contact Aster Dental Centre to discuss sedation dentistry in Edmonton. The team can answer booking questions and arrange the next suitable appointment.
For patient education about what sedation dentistry may involve, when it may be considered, and questions to ask, visit the matching Treatment Guide.
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