On your first visit, we will listen to your concerns, discuss your medical and dental history, examine your mouth and teeth and take any needed x-rays. We will gather information and develop options of therapy. On more complex cases additional information may need to be gathered on another appointment before the options can be presented. Options of therapy include: 1) different treatment plans 2) number of visits 3) length of time for each appointment 4) costs of therapy and payment options. At your next visit, we may be able to complete most, if not all, of your therapy. Most comprehensive appointments last less than four hours, but what can be accomplished and how many visits it takes is determined by your treatment plan and by your comfort. If you are being sedated, the anesthetist will be using several monitors to keep informed of your vital signs. These are comfortable and are not invasive. Once the IV is placed, just the right amount of medication is administered to keep you relaxed and comfortable. Although local anesthesia is used for most dental and surgical procedures, you will be snoozing when these are administered. Once your therapy is completed, you will be given less medication and you will begin to “wake up”. While your mouth will still feel numb, you will awake refreshed. You will probably not remember anything regarding the therapy performed. It will be necessary for a companion or friend to drive you home.