- (503) 668-1300
- SE Industrial Way Ste B, Sandy, OR
Do you avoid the dentist because of fear or anxiety? You’re not alone. Dental anxiety affects millions of people, causing them to postpone or skip necessary dental care—which often leads to more serious, painful, and expensive problems down the road.
At Blue Bird Dentistry, we understand dental fear is real and valid. That’s why we offer comprehensive sedation dentistry options to help you receive the care you need in complete comfort. Our sedation services allow even the most anxious patients to have calm, stress-free dental experiences while maintaining their oral health.
Dr. Russell Bird and Dr. Scott Becker are trained in sedation techniques and committed to providing gentle, compassionate care. Whether you need a simple cleaning or complex dental work, we’ll help you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout your visit. Serving patients throughout Sandy, Boring, Gresham, Damascus, and the Mt. Hood area, we’re here to make dental care accessible to everyone—regardless of anxiety level.
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” though most patients remain awake (except with general anesthesia, which we arrange with specialists for extremely rare cases).
Sedation dentistry offers varying levels of consciousness suppression:
Minimal Sedation: You’re awake and relaxed but responsive Moderate Sedation: You’re conscious but may not remember the procedure Deep Sedation: You’re on the edge of consciousness but can be awakened General Anesthesia: You’re completely unconscious (reserved for extremely complex cases)
At Blue Bird Dentistry, we offer nitrous oxide (minimal sedation) and oral conscious sedation (minimal to moderate sedation), covering the needs of most anxious patients.
Sedation dentistry isn’t just for people with severe dental phobia. It may be right for you if you:
Even if you don’t think you have “severe” anxiety, sedation can make your dental visit more pleasant and relaxing. Many patients who choose sedation say they wish they’d tried it sooner.
Nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation—perfect for patients with mild to moderate anxiety.
How It Works:
Benefits of Nitrous Oxide:
Ideal For:
Nitrous oxide is our most popular sedation option because it’s effective, safe, and convenient.
For deeper relaxation, we offer oral conscious sedation using prescription medication taken before your appointment.
How It Works:
Benefits of Oral Sedation:
Ideal For:
Important: You must have a responsible adult drive you to and from your appointment and stay with you for several hours afterward when using oral sedation.
Yes! When administered by trained professionals like our team, sedation dentistry is extremely safe.
Our Safety Protocols:
Pre-Sedation Evaluation: We review your medical history, medications, and overall health to ensure sedation is safe for you.
Monitoring: Throughout your procedure, we continuously monitor your vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels.
Appropriate Dosing: We calculate sedation medication carefully based on your weight, health status, and anxiety level.
Emergency Preparedness: Our team is trained in emergency response protocols, though serious complications are extremely rare.
Post-Procedure Care: We ensure you’re stable and provide detailed recovery instructions before you leave.
Who Shouldn’t Have Sedation?
Sedation is safe for most patients, but it may not be appropriate if you:
We’ll review your complete medical history during your consultation to determine the safest sedation option for you.
Consultation: We’ll discuss your anxiety level, medical history, and determine which sedation option is best for you.
Pre-Appointment Instructions:
For Nitrous Oxide:
For Oral Sedation:
Questions Welcome: We encourage you to ask any questions about the sedation process. Understanding what to expect helps reduce anxiety.
Arrival: For oral sedation, you’ll arrive with your driver and check in. We’ll get you comfortable in the treatment chair.
Monitoring: We’ll attach non-invasive monitors to track your vital signs throughout the procedure.
Sedation Administration:
Dental Treatment: Once you’re relaxed, Dr. Bird or Dr. Becker will perform your dental procedure. You’ll remain comfortable throughout.
Communication: We’ll talk to you during the procedure and you can respond, though with oral sedation you may not remember this later.
Recovery Period: You’ll rest in our office until you’re ready to leave. With nitrous oxide, this is just a few minutes. With oral sedation, it may be 15-30 minutes or longer.
Going Home:
Post-Procedure Care: We’ll provide written instructions for caring for yourself and your mouth after sedation and dental work.
Follow-Up: We’ll check on your recovery and schedule any necessary follow-up appointments.
Different dental procedures may benefit from different sedation levels:
For patients with anxiety about routine care, nitrous oxide provides perfect relaxation while allowing you to drive yourself home afterward.
Either nitrous oxide or oral sedation works well for fillings, depending on the extent of work needed and your anxiety level.
Oral surgery procedures often benefit from oral sedation, allowing us to complete all necessary extractions in one comfortable visit.
Implant placement is typically performed with oral sedation for maximum comfort during this transformative procedure.
For smile makeovers involving multiple procedures, sedation allows us to complete extensive work in fewer appointments.
When you’re already in pain and anxious about emergency treatment, sedation can help you feel calm and comfortable during urgent procedures.
Sedation dentistry is a powerful tool, but we also use other techniques to help anxious patients feel comfortable:
Communication: We explain procedures before we begin and let you know what to expect at each step.
Control: We establish a “stop” signal you can use if you need a break during treatment.
Comfort Measures:
Building Trust: We take time to listen to your concerns and work at your pace. Rushing anxious patients only increases anxiety.
Positive Reinforcement: We celebrate your courage in facing dental care despite anxiety.
Many patients find that combining these comfort techniques with sedation creates the ideal anxiety-free dental experience.
Most patients can safely benefit from sedation dentistry, but the best way to determine if it’s right for you is through a consultation.
During your visit, we’ll:
Ready to experience anxiety-free dental care? Schedule a consultation to discuss sedation dentistry options. We’ll help you find the approach that makes you most comfortable.
We believe no one should avoid dental care due to anxiety, which is why we’ve made sedation dentistry accessible and affordable:
Transparent Pricing: We provide clear cost estimates for sedation before your appointment.
Insurance: Some insurance plans cover sedation for certain procedures. We’ll verify your benefits.
Financing: We offer flexible payment plans through CareCredit and Cherry Financing to make sedation dentistry affordable.
Value: Consider the value of receiving care you’ve been avoiding. Addressing dental problems early (possible with sedation) prevents more expensive treatments later.
Our doctors have advanced training in sedation dentistry and extensive experience helping anxious patients feel comfortable.
We offer both nitrous oxide and oral sedation, allowing us to match the sedation level to your needs and comfort.
We take time to listen to your concerns, explain options thoroughly, and never pressure you. Your comfort and trust are our priorities.
Your safety is paramount. We use modern monitoring equipment and follow strict protocols throughout sedation procedures.
We understand dental anxiety is real and never dismiss your fears. Our entire team is committed to creating a supportive, judgment-free environment.
We accommodate sedation appointments when it works for your schedule, including coordinating your driver’s availability.
Dental anxiety is nothing to be embarrassed about, but it shouldn’t prevent you from maintaining your oral health. Untreated dental problems only get worse, leading to pain, infection, tooth loss, and expensive treatment.
Sedation dentistry removes the barrier of fear, allowing you to:
You don’t have to suffer through dental appointments or avoid care altogether. Sedation dentistry can transform your experience, making dental visits calm, comfortable, and stress-free.
Contact Blue Bird Dentistry today to schedule your sedation dentistry consultation. Call (503) 668-1300 or request an appointment online.
Let us show you that dental care doesn’t have to be scary. With the right sedation approach and our gentle, understanding team, you can receive the care you need without anxiety.
Serving Sandy, Boring, Gresham, Damascus, Estacaca, and the Mt. Hood area. We’re here to help you overcome dental fear and achieve optimal oral health.
Your comfort is our priority. Let’s work together to create positive dental experiences. Call today!