Cottonwood Heights Dental, owned by Complete Smiles
Sedation Dentistry in Cottonwood Heights & Salt Lake City, UT
Cottonwood Heights Dental offers sedation dentistry for patients throughout Cottonwood Heights and the greater Salt Lake City area who feel anxious, nervous, or downright dread the dentist's chair. Schedule a consultation, and let's find the option that actually works for you.
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Google ReviewsSedation Basics
You're Not Alone If the Dentist Makes You Nervous
Dental anxiety and phobia are more common than most people realize, and they're nothing to feel embarrassed about. Sedation dentistry gives you a way to get the care your smile needs without the stress that's been keeping you away, whether that means a little extra calm or being fully out for the appointment.
How We Help You Relax
Matched to How Anxious You Actually Are
Not every patient needs the same level of sedation. From a light sense of calm to being fully asleep for the procedure, your dentist helps you choose the option that fits your specific anxiety, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Comfortable, Not Just Calm
Sedation works alongside local anesthetic, not in place of it, so you're both relaxed and pain-free during treatment.
Judgment-Free, However Long It's Been
However long dental anxiety has kept you away, or whatever's behind it, you won't get a single raised eyebrow here. Just a team focused on getting you comfortable enough to finally get the care you need.
Financing & Insurance
Affordable Care, However You're Covered
No insurance? We have a plan for that. Our Complete Smiles Plan, Cherry, and CareCredit offer payment options built around a monthly number you can actually plan for.
Complete Smiles Plan
Our own in-house membership plan with same-day approval, built especially for patients without insurance, not just those who have it.
Same-day approvalCherry
Flexible monthly payment plans that make it easy to spread the cost of care over time.
Monthly paymentsCareCredit
A trusted healthcare financing option with terms that fit a monthly number you can plan for.
Trusted financingSunbit & Proceed
Additional financing options available at our Redwood office for even more flexibility.
Redwood officeSigns You Might Benefit
Signs Sedation Dentistry Might Help You
- You've avoided the dentist for years because of fear or a past bad experience
- You have a strong gag reflex that makes routine treatment difficult
- You need a lot of treatment done and would rather handle it in fewer, longer visits
- You feel anxious about needles, sounds, or sensations common in dental treatment
- Sitting still for a long procedure is difficult because of physical discomfort or a medical condition
Your Sedation Options
Every option is designed to make treatment easier, matched to how much help you need to feel comfortable.
Inhalation Sedation
Inhalation sedation is breathed in through a small mask and takes effect almost immediately.
- Produces a light, relaxed feeling within minutes
- Used alongside local anesthetic to keep you pain-free during treatment
- Wears off quickly, so you can typically drive yourself home after your appointment
- A gentle option well-suited to mild anxiety or shorter procedures
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation comes in pill or liquid form, taken at a set time before your appointment.
- Produces a calming effect that lasts through your entire treatment
- Simple, safe, and associated with very few side effects
- Effects last several hours, so you'll need someone to drive you home
- A good fit for moderate anxiety or longer appointments
IV Sedation
Often called sleep dentistry, IV sedation is delivered through an IV for the duration of your procedure.
- Most patients remember very little of the appointment afterward
- Your vitals are carefully monitored throughout for your safety
- Commonly used for oral surgery or for patients with intense anxiety or phobia
- You'll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day
The Sedation Process
What to Expect When You Choose Dental Sedation
Consultation & Matching Your Sedation Level
Your dentist reviews your anxiety, your treatment plan, and your health history together to recommend the sedation option that fits you best.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Depending on the sedation you choose, you may need to arrange a ride home or follow specific instructions beforehand, all explained clearly ahead of time.
During Your Treatment
You're monitored throughout your procedure, staying comfortable while your dentist completes the treatment you came in for.
Recovery & Going Home
Once treatment is complete, you'll rest briefly as needed before heading home, with clear instructions for the rest of your day if you had oral or IV sedation.
Why Complete Smiles
Why Patients Choose Complete Smiles
No Referrals Needed
From routine cleanings to same-day crowns to full implants, it’s all handled in-house, no bouncing between specialists for standard cases.
Same-Day Emergency Care
We’re ready to help right when you need us, with same-day emergency appointments available at all three offices.
Financing Built for Real Situations
Cherry, CareCredit, and our own in-house membership plan with same-day approval, built especially for patients without insurance, not just those who have it.
Family Care for Every Generation
From a first checkup at age three to your grandparents’ next crown, every generation gets the same chair and the same care.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Your vitals are monitored throughout your appointment, and your dentist selects the sedation option and level based on your health history and the treatment you need.
It depends on the option. Inhalation and oral sedation keep you relaxed but awake, while IV sedation, often called sleep dentistry, leaves most patients with little to no memory of the appointment afterward.
No. Sedation helps you relax, but local anesthetic is still used to keep you pain-free during treatment. The two work together, not in place of each other.
It depends on the type. Inhalation sedation wears off quickly enough to drive yourself home, while oral and IV sedation both require someone to drive you.
For IV sedation, you'll typically need to avoid eating for a set number of hours beforehand. Your dentist gives you specific instructions based on your sedation option.
That's exactly what your consultation is for. Your dentist reviews your anxiety level, your treatment plan, and your health history to recommend the best fit.
No. Sedation can be used for routine cleanings and exams too, not just surgery, especially for patients who experience anxiety at any dental visit.
Coverage varies by plan and by the reason sedation is being used. Our team can help you understand what your specific plan covers before treatment.
Inhalation sedation is commonly and safely used for children who feel anxious about dental visits. Your dentist can recommend the right option based on your child's age and needs.
Tell your dentist about it during your consultation. Being upfront about past experiences helps them choose an option, and a plan, that actually works for you this time.
Learn More About Sedation Dentistry
Practice Location Info
Where Your Care Happens
Your sedation dentistry appointments, and any follow-up care, all happen at our Cottonwood Heights Dental in Salt Lake City.
Owned by Complete Smiles
Cottonwood Heights Dental
7240 S Highland Dr, Ste 102
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
- Mon - Thu8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- FridayBy Appointment
- Sat - SunClosed
Financing: CareCredit · Cherry
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Ready When You Are
Whether it's been six months or six years, we'll take it from here: judgment-free, unhurried, and on your schedule.