If you have strong feelings of dental anxiety, it could hinder your ability to get the care you need to keep your smile healthy; you might even find yourself skipping routine checkups out of fear. In order to help their anxious patients, many dental practices offer oral conscious sedation. Is this form of sedation dentistry right for you? Here’s a closer look at how oral conscious sedation works and what can make someone a candidate for it.
What Happens When You Undergo Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation involves medication prescribed by your dentist. You will need to take the medication at a specified time prior to your appointment. The effects will put you in a deeply relaxed state and help you remain calm while you’re in the dental chair. Note that while you may feel drowsy, the medication is not intended to put you to sleep; if you doze off, your dentist will be able to wake you easily.
Bear in mind that you’ll need to have a trusted friend or family member drive you to and from an appointment involving oral conscious sedation. Also, since it can take several hours for the effects to wear off, you should plan on resting at home for the remainder of the day.
Are You a Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation is often recommended for patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety or phobias. It can also be a great option for those with strong gag reflexes, unusually sensitive teeth or gums, chronic jaw pain, or an inability to sit still for long periods of time. If any of these traits apply to you, then oral conscious sedation can definitely be worth considering.
That said, before you can move forward with any type of sedation dentistry, your dentist will need to consider the current state of your health. If you are pregnant, have a respiratory condition, or are taking certain kinds of medications, oral conscious sedation may not be the right choice for you.
If you do end up qualifying for oral conscious sedation, then it can be a great way to make your next dental visit a less stressful experience. Feel free to speak to your dentist about the sedation options that they offer at their practice; they’ll be more than happy to help you find the best way to get your dental fears under control.