If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes your heart race or even stops you from booking your dental appointment altogether, you’re far from alone. Many people experience dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, panic during dental procedures, or difficulty staying calm during longer treatments.
At Aurora Sky Dental, located in the Aurora Shopping Centre near Costco in Regina, we understand that comfort matters just as much as the treatment itself. That’s why we offer gentle, effective nitrous oxide sedation, oral sedation, and tailored sedation options to help every patient enjoy a calm, predictable, and truly stress-free dental experience.
Patients from East Regina, including Aurora, The Greens, Wascana View, Creekside, Eastgate, Parkridge, Varsity Park, Windsor Park, Glencairn, Wood Meadows, Spruce Meadows, and The Creeks, trust our team for comfortable care close to home. Many also visit us from surrounding Saskatchewan communities like White City, Pilot Butte, Emerald Park, Balgonie, Indian Head, Fort Qu’Appelle, Kronau, Montmartre, Moosomin, and Weyburn.
Dr. Ravi Patel and our friendly dental office team are committed to making dentistry accessible for everyone, including patients who have avoided dental visits for years because of fear. Sedation dentistry helps you receive important dental treatment while staying relaxed, aware, and completely comfortable.
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is one of the safest and most widely used sedation methods in modern dentistry. As a mild form of conscious sedation, it helps anxious or sensitive patients feel calm and at ease during dental procedures, all while staying awake and able to communicate.
The use of nitrous oxide involves breathing a gentle, odourless gas through a small nosepiece. Within minutes, you experience a feeling of warmth, comfort, and deep relaxation. This isn’t a formal disclaimer, but many patients describe the effects of nitrous oxide as peaceful, light, and pleasantly floaty.
Unlike stronger forms of dental anesthesia, nitrous oxide has:
You simply breathe normally, stay relaxed throughout the procedure, and return to your day with clarity once the gas is turned off.
People choose nitrous oxide sedation for many reasons, including:
Nitrous oxide is also a great fit for both adults and children who need help relaxing during dental care. Because the level of sedation is mild, patients remain fully awake, responsive, and in control. It is simply a calming tool that helps make treatment easier.
For patients who experience more intense fear or who require longer dental work, oral sedation may be recommended. Administered in pill form before the appointment, oral sedation allows you to reach a deeper sense of relaxation, ideal for those with severe dental anxiety.
In some cases, this technique is called oral conscious sedation, because you remain awake but feel as though you are dreaming, resting, or slightly detached from the experience. Many patients remember very little of the appointment afterward.
While oral sedation is still considered conscious sedation, it provides a stronger calming effect compared to nitrous oxide alone.
Both sedation methods help reduce fear and make dental treatment easier, but they differ in strength and purpose.
Combined, these options give Dr. Patel flexibility to offer the type of sedation that best supports your comfort.
Sedation dentistry allows patients to receive the dental care they need without fear or emotional discomfort, making it an invaluable option for people who might otherwise avoid the dentist. It is especially helpful for those with dental fear or past trauma, individuals who experience panic attacks in the chair, people with a sensitive gag reflex, and anyone who puts off treatment due to nerves.
It also supports patients undergoing longer procedures such as crowns, fillings, extractions, or dental implants, as well as children who struggle to sit through extended appointments. By making visits more comfortable and manageable, sedation dentistry helps patients maintain consistent care and supports better long-term oral health.
Many children experience dental anxiety, sensory discomfort, or trouble sitting still. Nitrous oxide is often the most effective and safest option for children in need of a smoother dental visit. It helps kids:
Parents often express relief knowing their child can receive important dental care in a gentle, positive way.
Here’s what you can expect during a typical nitrous oxide appointment at our Regina clinic.
Before providing any type of dental sedation, we review your medical history, medications, and allergies to ensure nitrous oxide or oral sedation is safe for you.
A small, comfortable nosepiece is placed over your nose to deliver the odourless gas.
After a few breaths, you begin feeling calm and relaxed. Your arms and legs may feel warm or light, and any tension melts away.
Once the desired level of sedation is reached, Dr. Patel begins your dental treatment. You stay awake, responsive, and able to follow simple instructions.
After the procedure, the nitrous oxide is turned off, and oxygen is given to clear the effects quickly.
Most people feel fully clear-headed within minutes and can return to normal activities without waiting for extended recovery time.
Nitrous oxide has been used safely in dentistry for over 150 years. Its gentle nature and rapid adjustability make it the preferred choice for millions of patients.
Safety benefits include:
Our team monitors your breathing, comfort, and blood pressure throughout the visit to ensure your well-being.
Nitrous oxide has very mild side effects, which may include:
These effects disappear quickly once the gas is turned off.
Oral sedation may cause more prolonged drowsiness or partial memory loss of the appointment, which is normal.
Many patients confuse conscious sedation with general anesthesia, but they are very different.
For routine dentistry, sedation dentistry is more comfortable, accessible, and cost-effective.
No. You remain awake and aware, just much more relaxed.
Yes. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly.
Several hours. You will need someone to drive you.
Nitrous oxide is extremely safe with minimal side effects.
Coverage varies. We help you understand your benefits before your visit.
At Aurora Sky Dental, our goal is to help you feel completely safe and supported during every visit. Whether you are receiving a simple cleaning, multiple dental procedures, restorative work, or more advanced dental treatment, sedation dentistry helps ensure a relaxed and positive experience.
Patients who once avoided the dentist often tell us: “I wish I had done this sooner.”
Sedation removes fear, makes time feel shorter, and helps you take control of your oral health again. If fear or discomfort has kept you from getting the dental care you need, sedation dentistry at Aurora Sky Dental can help.
Your best dental experience begins here. Call us or book online to request an appointment.