Sedation Dentist Weatherford

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed pill shortly before your appointment is scheduled to begin. A variety of medications can be used, with some common ones including Valium, Ativan, and Halcion. Within a few minutes of taking this medicine, you’ll begin to feel its effects. You will feel warm and euphoric, a little drowsy, and perfectly compliant when it comes to dental care. Patients tend to prefer oral conscious sedation because, unlike nitrous oxide, it does not involve a nasal mask. It is also completely needle-free, making it more comfortable and less anxiety-inducing than IV sedation for many patients. It is also perfectly safe for both children and adults.  

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

Oral conscious sedation does not make you lose consciousness; instead, it induces a very deep state of relaxation. While you might drift off to sleep, it will be easy for us to awaken you with a gentle shake or tap on the shoulder. You also may not remember much about your actual appointment. It might take several hours for the effects of oral conscious sedation to wear off, so you’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment. You should also plan to take it easy the rest of the day.

Are You a Good Candidate for Oral Conscious Sedation?

Our team will help determine if you’re a good candidate for oral conscious sedation. Generally speaking, it’s a suitable option for these situations:

• You suffer from a degree of dental anxiety or fear
• You have a particularly strong gag reflex
• You’re undergoing multiple or complex treatments
• You’re not easily numbed by local anesthesia

You have certain physical ailments that make it difficult to remain seated in a treatment chair for an extended period of time

Who Is a Good Candidate for Nitrous Oxide?

Almost any adult can qualify for nitrous oxide sedation because it's safe and effective. That said, the option does benefit some patients more than others. In particular, it’s most likely to help those with the following:

• A phobia of needles
• Dental anxiety or overstimulation
• Difficulty sitting still
• A strong gag reflex
• Dental sensitivity
• A resistance to numbing agents

Occasionally, some patients aren’t good candidates for nitrous oxide. For example, a pregnant patient may want to avoid it due to its effects on their pregnancy. Similarly, those with sinus congestion or respiratory disease may not be well enough to inhale through the nose mask.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

It involves a few steps, but applying nitrous oxide isn’t hard. Setting up the sedation method only takes a few minutes at most. Once that’s done, the dentist can use it throughout your treatment.

Before your procedure, the dentist will give you nitrous oxide through a nose mask. The latter tool ensures you fully and deeply inhale the gas. That way, you’ll quickly be sedated when your dentist starts working. From there, our team will monitor your vitals so that no problems occur.

After inhaling the nitrous oxide for a few minutes, you’ll feel its effects. Namely, your body will be relaxed and your mind at ease, ensuring the dental work goes more smoothly. Just keep in mind that your limbs can sense changes too. In particular, your arms or legs may feel tingly or heavier than usual. Still, the sedative will leave you alert and lucid; you’ll thus be able to respond to questions or instructions.

Aftercare for Nitrous Oxide

Overall, there isn’t much aftercare necessary for nitrous oxide. It’s ultimately a sedative that doesn’t last long.

A major perk of nitrous oxide is that it has virtually no side effects. When our dental work is done, and we remove your mask, it’ll quickly stop affecting you. As a result, you’ll be well enough to drive in mere minutes. You can then head back home or work and continue your day.

Of course, your treatment may be (or is) a bit special. In that case, you’ll want to follow any procedure-specific recovery tips your dentist gives you. Otherwise, you may not recover from the nitrous oxide as quickly.