“Conscious sedation” is a form of sedation dentistry that sounds completely impossible. Is it possible to be sedated and remain conscious at the same time? This is the process frequently referred to as “twilight sleep” in dental advertising, and which provides the patient with a sense of deep calm during the dental procedure. While patients cannot breathe by themselves or react to questions when under general anesthesia, conscious sedation patients can breathe on their own and respond to instructions from the dentist.
Relaxation techniques, or having an open discussion with their Miamisburg or Centerville dentist about what the procedures could entail alleviate some patients’ fears. But, there are many who do not go to a dentist out of fear of pain or anxiety, even for the most primary of dental care. To address this fear, dentists offer sedation dentistry services as a rule, not only for the more complex dental work like fillings and surgery, but also for the most rudimentary dental cleaning.
Conscious sedation is usually performed using one of three methods - intravenous drugs, oral medications or inhaled gases. It is up to the patient and the dental practitioner to evaluate all options and choose which method of sedation would best suit treatment being administered.
A patient who is more worried about the potential side effects of intravenous and oral medication can choose the inhalation technique in which the effects of the gas disappears from the system almost instantly. If someone has strong phobias about dental work and dental visits it is best for them to choose the most effective measure possible, usually in the form of IV sedation or inhaled sedatives.
Dental patients should be completely aware of their own medical histories, and review them with their dentist, before selecting a specific form of sedation, as both the IV and oral medications are not appropriate for everyone.
Are there any “downsides” to choosing sedation? Apart from the health factors and possible allergies to the medications used, an IV or oral sedation patient will require a ride to and from the dental procedure. Many patients are terrified of needles, in which case IV sedation may not be an appropriate option since the sedative is injected into the patient’s arm or hand. Once the IV sedation has rendered the patient relaxed and in many cases sleeping, a local anaesthetic will be injected into and around the site(s) being treated.
The efficacy of the oral sedative varies from patient to patient and the dosage prescribed. Factors like health, body weight, and metabolism will affect the overall effectiveness of the oral sedative.
It is wise to discuss in detail with your Miamisburg or Centerville dentist everything related to the treatment before deciding on a method of sedation.