Most people can handle dental treatment with no or minimal anxiety. However, for other people, the thought of going to a dentist can cause serious anxiety, to the extent of postponing or ignoring crucial dental appointments. If that sounds like you, oral conscious sedation could be a solution to ensure you receive appropriate treatment for your oral and dental health issues while relaxed and awake.
While relaxed, your dentist can easily provide precise treatment to restore your healthy smile. Ultimately, oral conscious sedation combined with local anesthesia can help you feel calmer and more relaxed during a dental appointment. If you struggle with dental phobia or anxiety, discussing these problems with a dentist is important to figure out an appropriate solution.
Read on to learn more about oral sedation, including how it works, its benefits, and whether you are an excellent candidate for this sedation option.
An Overview of What Oral Conscious Sedation is and How it Works
Sedation dentistry is a reliable remedy for patients with dental anxiety. Depending on the level of your anxiety and the recommended treatment, your dentist could recommend various types of sedation, including nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and oral conscious sedation. After nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation is one of the most recommended types of sedation.
It is an effective, simple procedure that does not require any injections. Unlike local anesthesia, oral conscious sedation does not numb your skin. Instead, it relaxes you, keeping you semi-conscious and aware during dental treatment so you can follow your dentist’s instructions.
The majority of patients describe their experience with oral conscious sedation as relaxed and detached from the recommended dental procedure. During your dental appointment, the dentist will give you a pill that you should take at least one hour before your treatment. Once the medication takes effect, you will feel tired, drowsy, relaxed, and even sleepy.
Your dentist will not mind if you sleep during the procedure and will wake you up if he/she needs you to answer a question or turn your head. Some of the common medications used during oral conscious sedation include the following:
- Triazolam
- Zalepron
- Lorazepam
- Midazolam syrup
One notable benefit of oral conscious sedation is the amnesic effect. After your recommended treatment, you will have no or little memory of what occurred at your dentist’s clinic. The amnesic effect is important because it helps you break the cycle of dental anxiety and fear, making all your future dental appointments easier to schedule and less intimidating.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for the Oral Conscious Sedation
Generally speaking, oral sedation is an ideal remedy for you if you have dental fears. Even though you do not have a phobia of a dentist working on your tooth, this sedation technique could be helpful if you are scheduled for a dental or oral procedure. Some of the common reasons that could make your dentist recommend oral conscious sedation include the following:
- You have a strong, active gag reflex that makes the scheduled treatment difficult
- You had traumatic dental experiences in the past
- You have a challenging time sitting still in your dentist’s chair
- The recommended procedure is lengthy or complex
- You have low pain tolerance
- Numbing techniques are not as effective on you as expected
- You have a fear of drills and needles
By offering you a customized sedation solution for your unique needs, your patient helps you receive the treatment you need to maintain your dental health in a non-judgmental, supportive environment. While oral sedation is a safe procedure for most adults and children, in some instances, your dentist could recommend a different sedation option.
An honest and thorough review of your dental and medical health is key to determining whether you are an excellent candidate for the procedure. Your dentist could recommend an alternative sedation option when scheduled for a dental procedure if you:
- Are pregnant — Your dentist could advise an alternative sedation option if you are pregnant to protect you and the child
- Have specific allergies — Being allergic to benzodiazepines, a prevalent class of oral sedative medications, will make the dentist recommend a different sedation option
- Have specific respiratory problems — If you have sleep apnea or COPD, your dentist could choose a different sedation option from oral sedation
- Have an uncontrolled medical problem — Before administering oral sedation, your dentist will ensure any underlying health condition is well-managed and stable
Your dentist can confidently recommend a sedation option to make your dental appointment painless and successful if you are honest with him/her about your oral health, concerns, and treatment objectives.
Benefits of Oral Conscious Sedation
Receiving oral sedation before a dental appointment has several benefits over other sedation options. These benefits include (but are not limited to) the following:
- It is non-invasive — Because oral conscious sedation is non-invasive, it is a great choice for anyone who is extremely afraid of needles.
- It is easy to administer — Oral sedation is easy for the dentist to administer. All you need to do is swallow the prescribed pill at least one hour before the treatment
- You will be conscious — While the oral sedative pill will make you feel relaxed, calm, and sleepy, you will not lose your consciousness during the treatment. That means you can comfortably take your dentist's instructions to increase the effectiveness of the treatment
- It is safe — The oral sedative pills the dentist will ask you to swallow are safe for you and have fewer side effects
- It has an amnesic effect — As mentioned in the previous paragraph, oral sedation has an amnesic effect, meaning you will have no or little memory of what occurred at your dentist clinic
What to Anticipate During the Oral Sedation Process
Going to your dentist for a dental procedure can be intimidating, but understanding what to expect during the appointment can make a significant difference. If you understand the steps involved in the oral sedation process, it can go a long way toward keeping you calm during the appointment.
Here is a breakdown of what to anticipate during the process, from the preparations you need to make to the steps you can take to accelerate healing:
- Preparing for the Dental Visit
Once your dentist determines that you are an excellent candidate for oral conscious sedation, he/she will give you clear instructions on how to prepare for the procedure for the best results. Here's an outline of what you should do before the procedure:
- Arrange a ride home — Because the effects of the oral sedative pill the dentist will swallow can linger for about 24 hours, the dentist will require you to organize a ride home. Even if you are a perfect and cautious driver, having someone you trust to drive you after receiving oral sedation before a dental appointment is a wise idea
- Fast — In many cases, avoiding drinks and food at least eight hours before the sedation is advisable. Doing that is important to prevent unnecessary complications while you are sedated. Consuming plenty of water before this procedure is also important because proper hydration is crucial for sedation
- Take a break from work — You should allow the sedative medication to wear off before returning to your usual work and daily activities. If you are an employee, you should speak with your employer or human resources manager to give you a break from work
- Wear comfortable clothes — For your comfort during the dental visit, you should wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing
- Avoid alcohol and cigarettes — Consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes before a dental appointment could impact the effectiveness of the oral sedation. Therefore, abstaining from these habits before your dental appointment is advisable
- During the Treatment
On your dental appointment date, the dentist will require you to take the sedative pill at least 1 hour before the procedure to allow it to take effect. The sedative pill will free you from any fear, discomfort, and anxiety during the treatment. The effects of the oral sedative pill could vary from one person to another, depending on body weight and size.
If the recommended procedure is invasive or extensive, your dentist may recommend local anesthesia to numb the treatment area.
- After the Treatment
After completing the scheduled treatment, the dentist will check and monitor your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate to ensure there are no abnormalities. As previously mentioned, you should have someone you trust ready to drive you home because the effects of the oral sedative medication used could linger for some hours after the treatment.
Here are tips on what to do after your dental appointment:
- Take adequate rest and have a friend or a family member accompany you before the sedative medication used wears off
- Avoid operating machinery for about twenty-four hours after the procedure
- Eat soft foods and hydrate to avoid injuring the treated area
- Schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol because these habits could slow your healing process
A Look at Other Sedation Dentistry Options
If you are not an excellent candidate for oral conscious sedation before a dental procedure, your dentist could recommend the following other sedation alternatives:
Nitrous Oxide
Your dentist may recommend administering nitrous oxide through a nosepiece or gas mask to help produce a relaxing effect before your scheduled dental procedure. The effect of this gas will take effect in less than 5 minutes. Your dentist will determine how much gas you will receive and can adjust it throughout your treatment.
Using nitrous oxide as a sedation option has no side effects, and its effects wear off immediately once the dentist flushes out the gas with pure oxygen. Unlike oral sedation, you will not feel drowsy after the procedure, meaning you can drive yourself home.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
One of the deepest sedation options your dentist could recommend during a dental appointment is IV sedation. IV sedation is ideal if you have severe dental phobia or anxiety, the recommended treatment is lengthy, and you do not have a fear of needles. If you are receiving treatment from an oral surgeon, he/she is more likely to recommend anesthesia alongside this sedation option.
A dental anesthetist will administer the IV sedation, and your oral surgeon will perform the procedure. During the IV sedation process, the dental anesthetist will inject an IV sedative directly into your bloodstream through the arm. The effects of IV sedation are immediate, and you will likely fall asleep during the treatment.
As with oral conscious sedation, the dentist will recommend that you arrange transportation after receiving IV sedation, as it can linger in your system for several hours after the treatment.
Common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Oral Sedation
Even after understanding the fundamentals of oral conscious sedation, it is natural to have some questions. Below are FAQs about this form of sedation dentistry and their answers:
- Is Oral Sedation Safe?
Oral sedation and other forms of sedation dentistry are effective and safe. Before recommending oral sedation, your dentist will carefully review your medical records, including the medications you are taking, to help determine the ideal type of sedative and dosage.
After you swallow the oral sedative pill, the dentist will also monitor your blood oxygen level, blood pressure, and heart rate using modern equipment, ensuring you safety from start to finish.
- Can a Dentist Use Oral Conscious Sedation on a Child?
Yes, your dentist can sometimes recommend oral sedation for your child if he/she has dental anxiety or requires extensive treatment. As with adults, the effects of oral sedatives before a dental appointment can help a child remain calm during treatment, achieving the best results.
- Which Dental Procedure Will a Dentist Typically Recommend You Receive Oral Conscious Sedation?
Your dentist can recommend receiving oral sedation for a variety of dental procedures, such as the following:
- Tooth extractions
- Root canal therapy
- Dental implants
- Periodontal treatments
- Extensive restorative work, including dental crowns or bridges
Find a Dentist Near Me
Taking care of your dental and oral health is critical not only for the aesthetic appeal of your smile but also for your overall health. However, for some people, the fear or thought of sitting in a dentist’s chair can be so intense that they delay dental care. At Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we understand dental phobia is real and how it could impact your oral health.
If you have dental anxiety, we can help explore various sedation options, including oral conscious sedation, to help you feel calm and relaxed during your dental appointment. Call us at 818-751-5100 to discuss your oral health concerns with our understanding dentists, wherever you are in Encino.
