Oral sedation dentistry is the most common and well-liked sedation method by patients due to its convenience.
What is Oral sedation dentistry?
For your forthcoming dental treatment, did your dentist recommend oral sedation? If so, you may be curious about what oral sedation includes. A frequent type of drug used to make patients feel more at ease during dental treatments is oral sedation, often known as conscious sedation.
Individuals enduring lengthy treatments who have dental anxiety, gag reflexes, problems controlling physical movements, or other unique needs may benefit from oral sedation. Before the appointment, patients take a pill containing a sedative different from nitrous oxide sedation or intravenous sedation (IV). Triazolam (Halcion®), zaleplon, and lorazepam are some of the most often utilized medications.
In some cases, such as when treating children, liquid sedation, such as midazolam oral syrup, may be given. These drugs temporarily reduce brain activity, making you feel more at ease. Consequently, your dentist can perform their procedure more effectively when you are relaxed and calm.
How will you feel after being orally sedated?
You will feel sleepy but unperturbed from oral sedation. If you were to fall asleep, you would be able to quickly awaken since you would still be aware and able to converse. Patients who have undergone oral sedation cannot recollect much of the treatment.
Advantages of Oral Sedation Dentistry:
1. Convenient to use. Your dentist will give you medicine to help you relax throughout the treatment. Oral sedation is the simplest of the three because all you need to do is take the pill an hour before your appointment and feel relaxed by that time.
2. No need for needles. Since needles are required to deliver IV sedation, many patients who are scared of the dentist also fear them. However, with oral sedation, the patient can take the sedative orally before the visit without fear of getting pricked by the dentist.
3. Amnesia. Because of the oral sedation, individuals have little to no memory of the surgery. Patients suffering from dental fear will have no memory of what happened while sedated, which is good for them.
4. Safe to administer. The FDA regulates all oral sedatives, so you are unlikely to suffer any harmful adverse effects.
5. Responsive. With oral sedation, you can feel sleepy, but you’ll still be awake and alert. Because you are awake throughout the procedure, you can still hear and follow your dentist’s instructions.
Disadvantages of Oral Sedation Dentistry:
1. Not feel their effects immediately. Unlike nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation, the impact of pill sedation does not take effect as quickly, which is why your dentist would advise you to take the sedative an hour or two before the procedure.
2. The level of sedation is not easily adjustable. For oral sedation to become effective, it makes sense that it takes some time to increase the dosage. It’s difficult to predict how long it will take for the sedative to start working because everyone metabolizes medications differently.
3. Not advisable to drive to the appointment. Patients who get oral sedation feel more at ease but also dizzy. To ensure that you may safely go there and return from your clinic, please be sure to bring a companion.
It can be challenging to overcome dental phobia, which is extremely common. By using sedation dentistry, fearful patients can relax during dental cleanings and procedures and avoid compromising their oral health in the treatment. Make an appointment with Dentistry on Dunn: Oakville Family Dentist for a dental checkup without further delay.
You may contact us online or call us at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Family Dental Care at Oakville and the treatments we provide.