If you need help staying relaxed while having dental work performed, you may consider having oral conscious sedation administered at your next appointment. However, you’ll first need to confirm that this sedation method is the right choice for you. Fortunately, your dentist is here to explain everything you need to know in order to determine whether you’re a good oral conscious sedation candidate.
How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?
Oral conscious sedation is meant to help keep patients in a calm, relaxed state while they undergo dental treatment. It involves taking a pill at a set time before the procedure is scheduled to begin. When the effects of oral conscious sedation kick in, you’ll enter a state of relaxation where the sights and sounds of the dental office don’t bother you. The sedative will not cause you to fall asleep; it is possible that you will feel drowsy enough to drift off, but if that happens, your dentist should be able to wake you up easily.
How Can You Tell If You’re a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
In order to determine whether oral conscious sedation is worth pursuing in your case, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you experience significant levels of fear and anxiety when it comes to receiving dental work of any kind?
- Do you have a strong gag reflex that has previously interfered with your ability to have dental work performed?
- Have you had a hard time getting numb with local anesthetic in the past?
- Do you have chronic jaw pain that makes it difficult to hold your mouth open for long periods?
- Do you find it difficult to sit still in the dental chair?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then you might benefit from having oral conscious sedation performed.
Is Oral Conscious Sedation Safe?
Generally speaking, oral conscious sedation is considered to be quite safe. Your dentist will thoroughly review your health history before administering the sedative. On top of that, your vital signs will be closely monitored throughout your appointment.
Bear in mind that once oral conscious sedation takes effect, you won’t be able to drive on your own until it wears off. As such, you should plan on having someone else transport you to your dentist’s office; the same person will also need to take you home afterward.
If you think that oral conscious sedation could help you have a more positive experience in the dental chair, talk to your dentist so that they can aid you in figuring out whether you’re truly a good candidate.
About the Author
Dr. Alberto Lamberti is a graduate of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; he also received a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Central University of Venezuela. He cares about the comfort of his patients, which is why he offers oral conscious sedation at his practice in Boca Raton. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lamberti, visit his website or call (561) 338-7535.