Raise your hand if a trip to the dentist makes you nervous or even fearful! You are not alone. About 50% of Americans dread dental visits because of dental fear or anxiety. The good news? You can achieve a positive, relaxing dental experience with sedation dentistry in Rochester Hills, Michigan. At River Square Family Dentistry, we offer nitrous and oral sedation options tailored to your needs.
What are the sedation options available?
Sedation dentistry uses anti-anxiety medication to keep you calm and relaxed during dental treatment. It’s important to note that sedation isn’t the same as general anesthesia. While under sedation, you’ll remain awake and even responsive, but to a lesser extent.
Here are the sedation options available at our office.
- Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is the mildest form of sedation. It’s administered through a mask, and the calming effects kick in within 3-5 minutes. You will be conscious and able to interact with our team. However, you’ll be in a dreamlike state and much less focused on the procedure itself. Once the mask is removed, the effects wear off quickly. That means you can resume your everyday life immediately after treatment.
- Oral sedation: This sedation is administered orally. Dr. Girgis will prescribe a sedative pill to be taken about 60 minutes before your procedure. This option is required when you need deeper sedation than nitrous oxide. You’ll be conscious but deeply relaxed, sleepy, and less detached from your treatment. You’ll also have reduced awareness of time and will be comfortable. After treatment, you’ll need someone to drive you home because of the lingering sedation effects.
Whether you need nitrous oxide or oral sedation, you can be confident of your safety. We examine your medical history, current medications, and allergies to determine your suitability for sedation. We also monitor you throughout the procedure to maximize your safety.


