Dental anxiety shouldn't keep you from the care you need. We offer safe, effective sedation options to help you relax completely during your appointment — so you can get the treatment you need without the stress or fear.
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It's sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," although you typically remain conscious — just deeply relaxed and often with little memory of the procedure afterward.
Studies show that dental anxiety affects up to 36% of Canadians, and about 12% have an extreme fear that prevents them from seeking dental care altogether. If this sounds like you, sedation dentistry can be the breakthrough that allows you to finally get the care you need — comfortably and without fear.
At The Port Dental Clinic, we take dental anxiety seriously. Our team is trained in multiple sedation techniques, and we follow all College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta guidelines to ensure your safety throughout the process.
We offer several sedation levels to match your anxiety and the procedure being performed:
Mild sedation. A gas inhaled through a comfortable nose mask. You'll feel relaxed, calm, and slightly euphoric while remaining fully conscious. Effects wear off within minutes — you can drive yourself home and return to normal activities immediately.
Moderate sedation. A prescribed sedative pill taken about an hour before your appointment. You'll feel deeply relaxed and drowsy, may drift in and out of light sleep, and will likely have little to no memory of the procedure. You'll need someone to drive you home.
Pain control. Standard numbing for the treatment area, used with all procedures. We apply topical numbing gel first and use modern injection techniques so the injection itself is barely felt. Can be combined with any sedation option above.
Dental anxiety or phobia — whether it's a mild nervousness or a deep-seated fear that has kept you from seeing a dentist for years.
Sensitive gag reflex — sedation relaxes your gag reflex, making procedures far more comfortable for you and more efficient for your dentist.
Long or complex procedures — implants, wisdom teeth removal, or multiple fillings in one visit are more comfortable with sedation.
Difficulty getting numb — some patients require extra help achieving full numbness. Sedation works alongside anaesthesia for complete comfort.
Special needs patients — patients with physical or cognitive challenges may benefit from sedation to ensure a safe, comfortable experience.
Previous traumatic dental experiences — a bad past experience shouldn't define your future care. Sedation helps you build new, positive associations with the dentist.
"I had an amazing experience at the Port Dental with Doctor Balbir Sandhu in the procedure of my wisdom tooth extraction. I was very nervous and worried before the surgery but the doctor made me feel comfortable, did all the process very smoothly and with no pain."
"I recently visited Port Dental and was blown away by the exceptional care and professionalism of the entire team! Dr. Sandhu is an outstanding dentist who takes the time to explain everything and puts you at ease. Highly recommend for your dental care."
"I had the best experience in my cleaning — Robin did it so well and I didn't feel any discomfort or pain. You can tell they aren't trying to recommend things for money grabs — they give professional advice and prioritize what is best for clients needs!"
Book a consultation at The Port Dental Clinic. We'll find the right sedation approach to make your dental visit comfortable, relaxed, and stress-free.
