Sedation & General Anesthesia at Chemung Family Dental

From mild relaxation where you remain awake and responsive, through deeper sedation where most people remember little of the appointment, up to general anesthesia where you are fully asleep. The right level depends on the procedure and on you.

Only with general anesthesia. Lighter options leave you conscious and able to respond, though relaxed and often with hazy recollection afterwards. We will be specific about what you should expect from the option you choose.

Sedation is routine in dentistry when it is properly assessed and monitored. Safety comes from a thorough medical history, appropriate monitoring throughout, and the right training. Dr. Nicholas Petti is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and holds a general anesthesia permit.

For anything beyond the mildest option, yes. You need a responsible adult who can take you home and stay with you for a few hours. This is not negotiable, and appointments do get postponed when people arrive alone.

It depends on the level of sedation. Deeper sedation and general anesthesia require fasting for a set period beforehand. You will get specific written instructions, and following them exactly matters for your safety.

Tell us exactly what and how much. Several common anxiety and sleep medications interact with sedatives, and the combination changes the dosing. This is one of the most important things on the health history.

Not necessarily, but it absolutely changes the assessment, since sedation affects the airway. Tell us about a diagnosis and whether you use CPAP or an oral appliance. This is one area where our dental sleep medicine experience is genuinely useful.

Local anesthetic is used alongside sedation, so the treatment site is properly numb. Sedation manages awareness and anxiety; the local anesthetic manages pain. They do different jobs and are used together.

Mild sedation wears off within a few hours. Deeper sedation and general anesthesia leave most people groggy for the remainder of the day, with normal function returning by the next morning. Plan not to work that day.

Coverage varies widely. Some plans cover sedation for surgical procedures or for documented medical necessity, and cover much less for anxiety alone. We check your benefits and give you a written estimate beforehand, with financing available.

It depends on age, health, and what treatment is needed. Come in and talk to us first. We will be candid about whether sedation is the right answer or whether a different approach would serve your child better.