Many people have intense anxiety about dental visits and avoid dental treatment at all costs due to their fear. If you or a family member have avoided dental care in the past, there is good news—thanks to Mountain View Family Dentistry, there is no reason to fear going to the dentist any longer. We can arrange for you to not even remember your visit with us.

Your Mesa sedation dentist Dr. Shayne Guffey is an Arizona state-certified member of DOCS, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. Our entire facility is also Arizona board-certified for the use of OCS, or Oral Conscious Sedation.

Mountain View Family Dentistry of Mesa, Arizona offers sedation dentistry for our adult patients using oral sedation and nitrous oxide. Whether you are getting a cleaning, implants, veneers or more, you won’t feel, see, or hear a thing.

Mountain View Family Dentistry now offers sedation by IV as well. IV sedation is an even more effective and safe method that gives Dr. Guffey better control of your procedure. Many patients wanting sedation dentistry want to get their dentistry done "all at once" or in as few appointments as possible. In the hands of experienced sedation dentists like Dr. Guffey and his associates, IV sedation helps fulfill this goal.

Dr. Heath Snell is an Arizona licensed general dentist who provides Mountain View Family Dentistry's IV sedation services. He comes to our offices several times a month with his training from the University of Colorado School of Dentistry and the Audie L. Murphy Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

It was there that he gained the needed training to perform more complex surgical procedures such as extraction of impacted wisdom teeth, the placement of dental implants, and a certification for IV sedation.

His skills help provide our sedation dentistry patients with the confidence and comfort that comes from being treated by a dentist with advanced sedation training.

Dr. Heath Snell

Dr. Snell graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University before attending the University of Colorado, and while at the UofC was nominated into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honors society.

Professional Associations

American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
Academy of General Dentistry
Arizona Dental Association
American Dental Association.

Oral sedation is one of our focuses

At Mountain View Family Dentistry, sedation dentistry is often administered in the form of oral sedation. This involves the taking of oral medication the night before your scheduled dental appointment, as well as on the morning of your visit with us when you arrive at our office. You are conscious during the procedure, but you're comfortable and relaxed.

photo of Mesa sedation dentistry patient

You may have absolutely no memory of the procedure. You will also feel as though the appointment only lasted a few moments. A trained dental professional will be with you the entire time. Your vital functions will be monitored, and you will be looked after with respect and care.

We also offer mild sedation through nitrous oxide gas

Nitrous oxide (also known as 'laughing gas') has many advantages

It works rapidly reaching the brain within 20 seconds and it’s pain-killing properties develop in 2-3 minutes
The depth of sedation can be increased or decreased at any time
There is no after effect such as a "hangover"
There are no side effects on the heart or lungs
Gagging is minimized
You are able to breathe on your own and remain in control of all bodily functions.

photo of Mesa sedation dentistry technique

One of the greatest advantages of nitrous oxide is that there are no lingering sedative effects. This means that you can drive home yourself and return to your normal work or home activities.

Frequently asked questions about sedation dentistry

Will I remember the appointment ?
Very often you don't remember the appointment at all. This response can vary. Because this is conscious sedation, you can fight off its effects if you choose to. But if you let yourself go, you may not remember any of the appointment.
Will I be unconscious ?
No. Unlike general anesthesia, which requires a hospital-like environment and technology, you are not unconscious. When you are truly unconscious, your vital functions like breathing need to be artificially maintained, which introduces more risk into the procedure. What we do in our office is called conscious sedation, and you are simply in a deeply relaxed state with all of your vital functions and protective reflexes still functional and operating.

Will I be monitored ?
Absolutely. One of our team members is with you at all times, and your vital signs are monitored during the entire visit. You are never left alone.

How long will I be relaxing ?
Depending on your needs, from two to six hours.

Will someone need to accompany me ?
Yes. Due to the sedative effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to our office and then drive you back home.

Can sedation dentistry be used with children ?
Yes, it can be. But it is best to have it done by a pediatric dental specialist. If you feel that your child would require or benefit from sedation, Dr. Guffey and his associates can refer you to a pediatric dentist skilled in the practice of child sedation dentistry.

Call Mountain View Family Dentistry of Mesa, Arizona today at 480-830-0262 to make an appointment for sedation dentistry. If you aren’t sure how you will feel with this type of sedation, you can always request a five-minute trial.