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All About Oral Sedation

Do you get nervous before going to your dentist’s office? You are not alone. At least 20% of dental patients have a fear of visiting the dentist. Modern dentistry understands these feelings and takes strides to help you feel more comfortable in the dentist’s chair.

Your dentist can offer sedation dentistry, a medicine designed to induce a calm sensation as you receive dental work. One method of receiving this medication is oral sedation.

To feel more confident about adding this medicine to your treatment to enhance your dental experience, you can consult with your dentist and learn more about it. Read on to learn what you can expect from oral sedation before, during, and after your next dental procedure.

All About Oral Sedation

Preparation for Oral Sedation

If you have a history of dental anxiety or gagging during dental work, sedation dentistry might be right for you. You can discuss your concerns and your preferences regarding your treatment with your dentist to find the method of sedation that will best suit your goals and your medical history.

If you and your dentist decide to pursue oral sedation, the dentist will prescribe this tablet for you. About an hour before your dentist appointment, take this medicine. It will make you feel relaxed while you remain fully conscious.

However, oral sedation will induce a groggy feeling too, so you will need to arrange for someone to take you to your appointment. They must also bring you home from the dentist’s office, so make these plans ahead of time to stay safe.

Sedation During Dental Work

When you arrive at the office for your dentist appointment, the effects of the sedation will likely have already begun. You can anticipate feeling calm and relaxed, and some people may feel so comfortable that they fall asleep, which is normal.

You can request sedation dentistry for most types of dental procedures. From standard dental fillings to more invasive tooth extractions, you can ask your dentist if sedation will help you. Sedation will not manage pain, but your dentist will employ anesthetics to numb affected areas of your mouth to block pain and other discomforts during dental work.

Recovery from Oral Sedation

Because oral sedation is administered through a tablet, a dentist cannot control the effects of the medication. This means you will need to wait for the medicine to wear off on its own, which may take eight hours or as long as 24 hours to fully fade. This may impact your usual routines, so plan your day accordingly.

But you can still go home right after your dental treatment. A lingering groggy feeling from this medicine will mean you cannot operate heavy machinery, including driving a car. Take time to rest following this procedure so that you can recover effectively and safely.

Adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions for optimal results and comfort as you heal. If you notice adverse effects or have questions once returning home from your dentist appointment, do not hesitate to give your dentist a call.