Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV moderate sedation, and on-site general anesthesia — all available at Suncoast. We're the only practice in the area with an RCDSO-approved general anesthesia permit, which lets us complete entire treatment plans in a single visit.
Book a sedation consultation
Many of our patients have been avoiding dental care for years because of anxiety, past bad experiences, or fear of pain. Modern sedation makes all of that a non-issue. You don't need to white-knuckle through dental care anymore.
Suncoast is the only dental practice in the area with an RCDSO-approved permit to deliver general anesthesia on-site. The GA itself is delivered by an anesthesiologist from London Health Sciences Centre — a hospital-trained specialist who comes to our practice for GA cases — while our dental team performs the procedure. The combination means you get hospital-grade anesthesia in a dental setting, without the cost or complication of a hospital admission.
Practical implications: anxious patients can have an entire treatment plan completed in a single GA visit, rather than spread across many shorter sedated appointments. Patients with severe phobia who would otherwise avoid the dentist entirely have a path to treatment. Complex multi-procedure cases — for example, several extractions plus implant placement plus same-day temporary teeth — can all happen in one visit. Dentists in the Goderich and Huron County area routinely refer sedation and GA cases to Suncoast when those modalities aren't available in their own offices.
The full sedation menu also includes IV moderate sedation (provided by Dr. Byron Larsen, Dr. Zeyad Hammad, and Dr. Will Xie), oral sedation (a prescribed pill taken before the appointment), and nitrous oxide (the lightest option). Most patients don't need general anesthesia — they're well-served by one of the lighter modalities. The right choice depends on your case and your preferences.
The lightest sedation option. You breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a nasal mask during the procedure. Effects wear off within minutes after the gas is stopped — you can drive yourself home afterward. Good for mild anxiety and shorter procedures.
A prescribed pill taken before your appointment puts you in a deeply relaxed state. You'll be awake but very calm — most patients remember little to none of the procedure. You'll need someone to drive you home. Good for moderate anxiety.
Medication delivered through an IV puts you in a deeply relaxed state. You respond to instructions but typically remember nothing of the procedure. Available with Dr. Larsen, Dr. Hammad, or Dr. Xie. Good for significant anxiety or longer procedures.
Fully asleep for the entire procedure, delivered on-site by an anesthesiologist from London Health Sciences Centre. The only GA permit in the area lets us complete entire treatment plans in a single visit. Good for severe anxiety, special needs patients, and complex multi-procedure cases.
Common questions about sedation options.
Book a free consultation. We'll discuss your anxiety level, your treatment needs, and which sedation option fits your case best. Many of our patients are surprised how comfortable dental care can actually be.