Sedation dentistry
Sedation Dentistry in Corona del Mar
Some people have not been to a dentist in fifteen years, and they can usually tell you exactly which appointment did it. Sedation exists for them — and for anyone facing a long surgical or restorative visit who would simply rather not be present for all of it.
We offer oral sedation and moderate IV sedation in this office, matched to the procedure and to how you feel about being in the chair. Nobody here treats dental anxiety as something to talk you out of.
What sets this apart
- Oral and moderate IV sedation, both in-office
- Long surgical and restorative visits done in fewer appointments
- Noise-reduction headphones and sunglasses for every patient
Treated by Dr. Zak Polonus, DDS MS at 2345 East Coast Hwy, Ste. C, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.
The comfort and sedation options we offer
Oral sedation
A prescribed medication taken before your appointment. You stay awake and responsive but deeply relaxed, and most patients remember little of the visit.
Moderate IV sedation
Administered and titrated through the appointment for a deeper, more controlled level of sedation. Suited to implant surgery, extractions, and long reconstruction visits.
Local anesthetic, done carefully
Topical first, slow delivery, and the time to let it work fully. A great deal of dental discomfort is really rushed anesthetic.
Comfort amenities
Noise-reduction headphones, sunglasses against the operatory light, blankets, and breaks whenever you want one.
Which option suits which appointment
For a cleaning or a filling that you are dreading, oral sedation is usually enough — simple, taken beforehand, and it takes the edge off the whole visit. For implant placement, multiple extractions, or a long reconstruction appointment, IV sedation is the better tool because the level can be adjusted as the appointment goes.
Sedation also makes longer combined appointments practical, which often means a course of treatment finishes in three visits instead of six.
How we keep it safe
Before any sedation appointment we review your full medical history, current medications, and any prior reactions to anesthesia. Vital signs are monitored throughout, and you will be given clear instructions about eating beforehand and arranging a ride home.
If your history suggests sedation is not the right choice, we will say so and find another way through — shorter appointments, a different sequence, or a referral to the appropriate setting.
How it works
The path from first visit to finished work.
01
Tell us you are anxious
Mention it when you book. It changes how we schedule the appointment and how much time we allow.
02
Health review
Medical history, medications, and prior anesthesia experience, so the right option is chosen for you.
03
Your appointment
Sedation given, vitals monitored, and the work done at an unhurried pace.
04
Recovery & ride home
Time to come around in the office, written aftercare, and a driver arranged in advance.
Questions we get
Sedation Dentistry, answered.
Will I be unconscious?
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No. Oral and moderate IV sedation both leave you conscious and able to respond, just deeply relaxed and with little memory of the appointment afterward. General anesthesia is not administered in this office.
Is sedation dentistry safe?
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For healthy patients it has a strong safety record when it is properly screened and monitored, which is why we review your medical history and medications first and monitor vitals throughout. Certain conditions make one option preferable to another, and occasionally make sedation inadvisable — we will tell you if that is the case.
Do I need someone to drive me home?
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Yes, for both oral and IV sedation. You should not drive for the rest of the day, and we will confirm your ride when the appointment is booked.
Does insurance cover sedation?
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Coverage varies by plan and by the procedure it accompanies — sedation for surgical treatment is more often covered than sedation for routine work. We will check your specific plan and quote the cost before your visit.
I am embarrassed about how long it has been. Will you judge me?
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No, and we say that with real conviction. A significant share of our new patients arrive after years away. We start where you are, sedate you if that is what gets you through the door, and take it in stages.
Related care
All servicesGeneral Dentistry
Cleanings, exams, fillings, and gum care — the everyday dentistry that keeps everything else simple.
Read moreOral Surgery
Extractions, wisdom teeth, and bone grafting performed here rather than referred across town.
Read moreDental Implants
Replacing missing teeth on a foundation fixed into bone — planned, placed, and restored in this office.
Read moreReady when you are
Let us make the appointment easy
Tell the front desk you would like to discuss sedation, and we will plan the visit around it.
- New patients welcome
- Most major PPO plans accepted
- Takes about a minute
Would rather write than call? Send the front desk a note and we will usually reply the same business day.