Skip to main content

Oral Conscious Sedation Overview | LADD Dental Group

What is Oral Conscious Sedation

"Conscious sedation dentistry, also known as procedural sedation and analgesia, is the procedure whereby sedatives are administered before a dental procedure to help you relax. You remain awake and responsive during your dental treatment, and you won’t feel any pain. The sedative just helps ease dental fear, so you get comfortably through your procedure.
Dental fear and anxiety keeps millions of people away from the dental office every year. For them, local anesthesia isn’t enough because while it numbs the pain, it does nothing to minimize the fear and other psychological factors that patients away from their dentists. Many dentists use conscious sedation as a way to put patients at ease during dental treatment

Dental Sedation Options

Most forms of conscious sedation are considered "light" or "moderate".  But conscious sedation is also referred to as sleep dentistry despite most patients remaining awake during their procedures. There are different types of sedation dentistry available for treating different levels of dental anxiety.  Each of these options puts you in varied states of relaxation:
Light Sedation – You are minimally sedated. You will be able to  relax while remaining awake and alert.
Moderate Sedation – You remain conscious during the procedure, but afterward you likely won't remember much about it. You’ll be able to communicate, and you may slur your words and feel groggy. Some patients fall asleep with moderate sedation, but wake up easily.
Deep Sedation – Deep sedation is usually not categorized as conscious sedation. Under deep sedation, most patients are either semi- or completely unconscious while their dentist works. With deep sedation, you will not regain consciousness until the drug wears off or is reversed, and it will take you longer to recover from the effects of the sedation

How Conscious Sedation Works

There are several options for how your dentist will administer conscious sedation:
Inhalation Sedation -- Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is  a light form of dental sedation. Your dentist will administer the nitrous oxide through a mask that's placed over your nose. As the gas is inhaled through the nose, you perceive less pain and experience feeling of euphoria. Once the procedure is over, the nitrous oxide wears off almost immediately with virtually no effects or recovery time.
Oral Sedation -- Depending on the strength of the prescription, oral medication produces a light to moderate level of  sedation.  Oral sedation usually comes in the form of a pill, and is taken an hour before the procedure. Although you'll be able to respond to your dentist, you may feel sleepy. With this option, recovery time will be longer, and you won’t be able to drive from your appointment.  Some uncommon side effects are nausea and vomiting.
IV Sedation -- Like oral sedation, IV sedation is considered moderate and has a longer recovery time. Since the sedatives are delivered intravenously, the effects are felt much sooner. IV sedation also allows your dentist to adjust the level of sedation needed during the procedure. 

What About General Anesthesia?

General anesthesia is a form of deep sedation, and it is the only dental sedation that puts you to sleep, so it isn’t included on the conscious sedation list. The thought of sleeping through the entire dental visit is intriguing to some, but before you decide to use general anesthesia to treat your dental fear, you should understand all that it entails.
General anesthesia can only be administered by an anesthesiologist, dental anesthesiologist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. If your general or cosmetic dentist doesn't have the facilities or certification needed for general anesthesia -- and most don't -- you may need to have your work done in a hospital, which can significantly increase costs.
There are also certain risks involved with general anesthesia that aren't present with conscious sedation dentistry, like the need for assisted breathing.  General anesthesia may be an option for those who don't respond to conscious sedation, need extensive dental work, or because of mental or emotional constraints are unable to understand the nature of their dental visits. 

Pain Management

The medications used for conscious sedation don’t contain painkillers, so it’s likely you will need a local anesthetic during your dental procedure. Conscious sedation can ease the  fear of needles so you can relax while your dentist easily administers shots of Novocain

Avoiding Complications

Conscious sedation is considered safe. As with any medicine, there are risk factors. To ensure your safety, dental sedatives should only be administered by trained professionals. Your dentist will consider your overall health when choosing a form of conscious sedation. To avoid any complications, be sure to provide the dental office with your medical history and any medications you're taking.
Conscious sedation can help you ease your mind, and get rid of anxiety, so you can focus on your dental health, not the discomfort associated with it. If you're afraid, anxious, or apprehensive, let your dentist know-- he or she will choose the right form of dental sedation for you. All of this info and more can be found at https://www.1800dentist.com/dental-treatments/conscious-sedation/" 
Here at LADD Dental Group, we offer all forms of sedation dentistry, including IV Sedation. Our team of highly trained dentists and dental specialists want to provide you with the individualized dental care you deserve! It makes us unique that we are able to offer all forms of sedation to our patients, but that's what we mean when we talk about truly comprehensive dental care. Give us a call today, and experience the LADD Dental Difference! 
Below you will find one of our highly trained sedation dentists, Dr. Shoba, talking about the type of sedation she offer at LADD Dental Group of McCordsville. We also have a Periodontist, Dr. Rajkumar, who works out of this office as well, and she is trained in oral conscious as well as IV Sedation!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sedation Dentistry | Adult Sedation Dentistry | Sedation Dentistry in McCordsville

Sedation Dentistry in McCordsville, Indiana  Nearly half of all North Americans don’t go to the dentist every year.   The number one reason, according to the American Dental Association, is fear.  But fear isn’t the only reason.  People have busy lives and little time for repeated visits to the dentist. Some don't see the importance of keeping their teeth.  And there are a host of other reasons as well.  Whatever your reason, or the reasons for someone close to you, know this – you are not alone!  Sedation Dentistry is here to help you, as it has so many other patients, safely and effectively get the care you need in a safe and comfortable environment for the best dental experience you’ve ever had. This isn’t a One Size Fits All Each patient is unique. That means that whatever medications you may be taking, dental treatments needed, or the years away from the dentist – there is a safe and effective way to get the smile you’ve always wanted. Sedatives are given to

LADD Dental Group | About Us

  LADD Dental Group | Indiana Dental Group   Overview of Ladd Dental Group : Ladd Dental Group is a family-run group dental organization that has been dedicated to serving North Central Indiana families since 1978. With a rich history spanning over four decades, Ladd Dental Group has become a trusted name in the local community for comprehensive dental care. Key Features: 1.     Family-Centered Approach: At Ladd Dental Group, the family is at the heart of everything they do. As a family-run dental organization, they understand the importance of personalized care and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for patients of all ages. 2.     Provider and Patient Centric: Ladd Dental Group places equal emphasis on providing exceptional care for both their patients and their dentalprofessionals . They strive to maintain a positive and supportive work environment for their staff, which ultimately reflects in the quality of care provided to their patients. 3.     Commitment to th

Dental Implants Near Me | Dental Implant Technology

  Dental Implants Near Me | Dental Implant Technology   Dental implants are the hottest dental treatment modality in the industry. There are many different types of dental implants out there, and there are many different uses for dental implants. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, all the way up to replacing all 32 missing teeth. See a few of the different dental implant options below:  Single Tooth Dental Implant :  By replacing one single tooth and avoiding the conventional bridge approach, the adjacent teeth are preserved. Dental implants come in various sizes of length and width. Since molars typically do most of the work during chewing, using an implant of maximum size is always preferred. By determining the exact jaw dimensions prior to implant surgery, the implant team is able to decide on just the right implant for the tooth to be replaced. Dental CT scan technology is used to plan the implant surgery in a precise manner by using computer assisted planni