Sedation Dentistry near Fairfield

If a bad experience has kept you away from the dentist for years, you are not alone, and you are exactly who we built this service for. Dental anxiety is common, it is nothing to be embarrassed about, and it responds well to two things: a team that takes it seriously and, when needed, sedation. We have offered oral sedation to nervous patients at Regency Dental Group for years, and many of our most loyal patients are people who once could not walk through the door.

Oral conscious sedation is a prescription medication taken by mouth about an hour before your appointment. It does not put you to sleep; you remain awake, breathing on your own and able to respond to us. What changes is how you feel: relaxed, unbothered, and often unable to remember much of the visit afterward. Local anesthetic still numbs the teeth, so there is no pain, and because you are calm we can frequently complete in one longer visit what would otherwise take two or three. You will need a companion to drive you to and from the appointment and stay with you until the medication wears off.

Sedation pairs with the rest of our approach. We explain every step before we take it, agree on a hand signal so you can pause us at any time, and never rush. Some patients find that after one or two sedated visits, the anxiety fades enough to manage routine care without medication. Others prefer sedation every time, and that is fine too.

Before prescribing, Dr. Carter reviews your health history and current medications, because oral sedation is not appropriate for everyone. We do not provide IV sedation or general anesthesia in this office. If your situation calls for a deeper level of sedation, or if you need extensive oral surgery, we will refer you to a provider who offers it and coordinate your care.