You stay relaxed yet able to talk with Dr. Nelly Silva through treatment, and our team checks in by phone after your visit.
Conscious sedation uses sedative and pain-relieving medication to bring on a relaxed, altered state of awareness during treatment. You stay conscious the whole time.
We provide it as anxiolysis, a light level of sedation that eases anxiety rather than putting you to sleep. It works alongside local anesthetic, which still numbs the tooth or gum being treated. Dr. Silva chooses the medication and dose after reviewing your health history and the care you need.
You can hear Dr. Silva and answer her questions from start to finish.
The sedative takes the edge off fear, tension and the urge to pull away.
You can tell the doctor or a team member right away if anything feels uncomfortable.
These are the questions anxious patients ask most before their first sedated visit.
You stay awake. Conscious sedation keeps you able to speak and respond to verbal cues, which is the main way it differs from general anesthesia.
Many patients recall little. A brief period of amnesia can follow conscious sedation, so the appointment often feels short and hazy afterward.
Sedation calms you, and local anesthetic blocks pain where we work. We use both, placing the anesthetic with The Wand® Advanced Anesthesia, a computer-controlled system that delivers it slowly and steadily.
It suits patients who find a standard visit hard to get through, and those facing longer treatment. It may be a fit if you have:
I am terrified of the dentist. I was treated with compassion and empathy. I don't even remember the root canal surgery.
Denice H., Google Review
Sedation adds a few steps to a normal visit. Here is how the day runs from first conversation to the morning after.
Dr. Silva reviews your health history, medications and planned treatment, explains how sedation will feel and answers your questions. You leave knowing what will happen and who should drive you home.
Once the sedative takes effect, the area is numbed with The Wand® and Dr. Silva begins. You can talk with her and speak up at any point.
We monitor you after the procedure, before you leave our office. A responsible adult then takes you home to rest.
Do not drive, operate dangerous equipment or make important decisions for at least 24 hours. Our team usually calls to see how you are feeling and answer any remaining questions.
Conscious sedation and anxiety management are part of the care Dr. Silva provides, alongside the extractions, root canals, implants and dentures that patients most often pair with them. Many patients have stayed with her for years. One Google reviewer has called her their dentist for 20 years.
She also teaches future dentists at Temple University, and she invites patients to call her Nelly.
The fee depends on the procedure it accompanies and how long you are sedated. We give you an estimate once your treatment plan is set.
We accept all PPO dental insurance plans. Coverage for sedation varies by plan and procedure. We do not accept Medicaid.
Our payment plans let you spread the cost of treatment rather than paying it all at once.
No dental insurance? Our dental savings plan is available for patients without coverage.
More answers about sedated visits at our Collegeville office.
Usually, yes. IV sedation can also be adjusted to deeper levels during treatment. The conscious sedation we provide is lighter: you stay awake and able to answer Dr. Silva the whole time. At your consultation she explains which level suits the treatment you need.
Often, yes. Grouping treatment into one longer appointment is a common reason patients choose sedation. Dr. Silva decides how much can be done in a single visit once she has reviewed your treatment plan and health history.
Not always. Some health conditions and medications call for a different approach, so Dr. Silva reviews your full medical history before recommending sedation. If it is not a good fit, she talks you through other ways to make treatment more comfortable.
Yes. Sedation dentistry for children is one of our services. Dr. Silva talks with parents about whether it suits their child's age, health and treatment before anything is planned.
Yes. Our office at 399 Arcola Road in Collegeville sees sedation patients from Royersford, Oaks, Limerick, Trappe, Skippack, Phoenixville, Norristown and Blue Bell. Because you need a driver on treatment day, many patients plan the visit with a family member nearby.
Share every prescription, over-the-counter medicine and supplement you take, along with your health conditions. Also mention any earlier reaction to sedatives or anesthetic. This lets Dr. Silva choose the right medication and dose for you.
Tell Dr. Silva what makes dental visits hard for you. She will explain whether conscious sedation fits the treatment you need.
