SEDATION OPTIONS
Safe Sedation Options for Every Type of Dental Procedure
Whether you need mild relaxation or complete sleep during your dental treatment, MASC Cares offers medically supervised options tailored to your comfort, your health, and your procedure. Every case is managed by a board-certified anesthesiologist—the same level of expertise you’d receive in a hospital operating room.
Types of Sedation
Understanding Your Sedation Options
Every patient is unique. MASC offers multiple levels of anesthesia to match your needs:
Nitrous Oxide
Mild relaxation for short procedures.
Learn More →
Oral Sedation
A prescription pill to reduce anxiety before your visit.
Learn More →
IV Sedation
Deeper relaxation with continuous monitoring.
Learn More →
General Anesthesia
Complete sleep for extensive dental work or special needs.
Learn More →
SEDATIONS OPTIONS
Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”)
Light, fast-acting relaxation for simple or short procedures
Nitrous oxide provides gentle, adjustable relaxation through a soft nose mask. You remain fully awake but feel calm, warm, and less aware of the procedure.
Best For:
- Mild dental anxiety
- Short or minimally invasive treatments
- Patients who prefer to stay awake but relaxed
- Children who need gentle calming support
What to Expect:
- A comfortable mask delivers a blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen
- Effects begin within minutes and wear off just as quickly
- You stay awake, responsive, and in control
- Most patients can return to normal activities the same day
Nitrous oxide is one of the safest sedation choices — ideal for patients who want a light, quick, worry-free experience.
SEDATIONS OPTIONS
Oral Sedation
A prescription medication taken before your visit to reduce anxiety
Oral sedation uses a pill that helps you feel deeply relaxed while remaining awake. It’s a great option for patients with moderate anxiety who want a calmer experience without IV medication.
Best For:
- Moderate dental anxiety
- Longer or more detailed procedures
- Patients who prefer a pill over IV sedation
- Adults who want limited awareness of the appointment
What to Expect:
- You take a prescribed medication before arriving
- You’ll feel drowsy, relaxed, and far less aware of your surroundings
- You remain conscious but may forget parts of the visit
- You’ll need someone to drive you to and from the appointment
Oral sedation provides a more relaxed experience than nitrous oxide, with stronger calming effects and easy preparation.
SEDATIONS OPTIONS
IV Sedation (Conscious Sedation)
Deep relaxation with continuous medical monitoring
IV sedation keeps you calm, comfortable, and deeply relaxed while remaining semi-awake and able to respond to gentle cues. Most patients remember little to nothing afterward.
Best For:
- Tooth extractions and implants
- Periodontal or surgical treatments
- Patients with significant anxiety
- Patients who want minimal awareness during their visit
What to Expect:
- Medication is delivered through a small IV line
- You feel deeply relaxed, heavy, and unaware of time
- You remain responsive if needed
- Continuous monitoring by a MASC anesthesiologist
- Faster recovery compared to full general anesthesia
IV Sedation is the most popular option for patients seeking a calm, low-stress experience with real medical oversight.
SEDATIONS OPTIONS
General Anesthesia
Complete sleep for complex procedures or patients with special needs
General anesthesia places you in a fully asleep state — just like in a hospital operating room. You feel no pain, have no awareness, and remember nothing.
Best For:
- Extensive or multi-hour dental surgeries
- Full-mouth rehabilitation
- Children, teens, or adults with special needs
- Severe dental anxiety
- Patients with medical conditions requiring airway control
What to Expect:
- You are fully asleep and unable to feel or remember the procedure
- A board-certified anesthesiologist manages your airway and vitals
- Continuous hospital-grade monitoring throughout your visit
- You recover in-office with medical support until fully alert
- You head home with a support person once stable
General anesthesia offers the deepest level of comfort and safety — ideal for complex or sensitive cases.
MASC CARES
Your Safety Comes First
Every sedation option provided by MASC Cares is administered by licensed medical doctors specializing in anesthesiology. We follow the standards set by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) to ensure safe, predictable in-office anesthesia.
Comprehensive pre-procedure medical screening
Safe recovery and discharge guidelines
Hospital-grade monitoring equipment
Emergency preparedness and trained support
Hospital-grade monitoring equipment
Want to Know How We Keep Every Patient Safe and Comfortable?
Explore our standards of safety, experience, and care that make anesthesia dentistry easier and more reassuring for every patient.
NEXT STEPS
Not Sure Which Sedation Option Is Right for You?
We’ll coordinate directly with your dentist to determine the safest, most comfortable option for your health, your anxiety level, and your procedure.
Together, we’ll help you breathe easy — literally.
Together, we’ll help you breathe easy — literally.
Locate trusted MASC partner offices near you.
Get more information as soon as next the business day