Dr. Nelly Silva uses oral conscious sedation so anxious patients can relax through treatment, and complex care can often be finished in fewer visits.
Sedation dentistry uses medication to calm your body and mind during dental care. In our office that medication is a prescribed pill taken before your appointment, a method also called anxiolysis or conscious sedation.
Sedation does not replace numbing. It works alongside it: local anesthetic tends to work better once tense muscles relax, which helps patients who usually have trouble getting numb. For the anesthetic itself we use The Wand® Advanced Anesthesia, a computer-controlled system that delivers it at a slow, steady rate.
Sedation suits patients whose anxiety, reflexes or treatment needs make a standard visit hard to get through. It may be a fit if you:
Dental sedation ranges from light relaxation to full unconsciousness. Here is how the common levels differ, and where oral conscious sedation, the option we provide, fits.
| Level | How It Is Given | How Aware You Are | Getting Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrous oxide | A gas breathed through a small nose mask | Awake and calm; the effect fades within minutes once the mask is removed | Many patients can drive themselves |
| Oral conscious sedation Our office | A prescribed pill taken before treatment | Deeply relaxed but able to respond; often little memory of the visit | An adult companion drives you to and from the visit |
| IV sedation | Medication through a vein in the hand or arm | Deeper relaxation, adjusted during treatment | An adult companion drives you home |
| General anesthesia | Medicines given by an anesthesia provider | Fully unconscious and unresponsive | An adult companion drives you home; recovery takes longer |
At your consultation, Dr. Silva confirms whether oral sedation fits your health history and the treatment you need.
They offer a sedation option that made the entire process completely painless. I don't even remember the root canal surgery.
Denice H., Google Review
I also have dental anxiety and the atmosphere & team was super calming and eased my nerves.
Liz A., Google Review
Dr. Silva reviews your health history, medications and treatment needs, then plans how much care can be grouped into one sedated visit.
You take the prescribed pill as directed. Because it relaxes you before you arrive, arrange for an adult to drive you to and from our office.
Dr. Silva completes the planned care while you rest, monitored the entire time. Work that might have taken several appointments can often be done in one.
Rest for the remainder of the day with someone nearby while the sedative wears off. Any soreness can usually be eased with Aleve® or Tylenol®.
Conscious sedation and anxiety management are among the services Dr. Silva provides, alongside the extractions, root canals, implants and full mouth reconstructions that often call for it. She also teaches as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Medicine and Surgery at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry. She invites patients to call her Nelly.
The cost of sedation depends on the treatment it accompanies and how long the visit lasts, so we give you an estimate after your consultation.
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 your treatment rather than paying it all at once.
No dental insurance? Our dental savings plan is available for patients without coverage.
No. You stay awake enough to respond to Dr. Silva while feeling deeply relaxed. Because many patients recall little of the visit afterward, it is sometimes called sleep dentistry.
We still numb the area being treated, and we deliver the anesthetic with The Wand® Advanced Anesthesia. Soreness afterward can usually be eased with over-the-counter pain relievers.
It depends on your plan and the procedure being done. We accept all PPO dental insurance plans, and we explain your expected out-of-pocket cost before treatment begins. We do not accept Medicaid.
The fee depends on the treatment it accompanies and the length of the visit, so we quote it after your consultation. Payment plans and our dental savings plan can help.
Many wisdom tooth extractions are completed with local anesthetic plus conscious sedation, and patients avoid the longer recovery of general anesthesia. Deeply impacted teeth or certain health conditions may call for a deeper level. Dr. Silva reviews your imaging and health history before recommending an approach.
No. Arrange for an adult to drive you to and from your appointment, and plan to rest at home for the rest of the day while the medication wears off.
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.
Book a consultation to talk through your worries and find out whether oral sedation fits your treatment plan.
399 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
