If you have dental anxiety or a fear of going to the dentist, sedation dentistry is an effective option to help calm your nerves. At Citrus Smiles, we offer oral sedation in Murphy, Wylie, Heath and Lucas TX, for patients with mild to moderate dental anxiety. Dr. Aurora will assess your medical history and adjust the dose of the sedative according to your needs.
Benefits of Oral Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is an effective method for relaxing your mind and body before undergoing a dental procedure. With a mild oral sedative, you will remain conscious during treatment but will not feel stress or anxiety. The benefits of this technique include:
- It is completely non-invasive and easy to administer. You only have to take a pill orally.
- This type of sedation eliminates the need for needles.
- It induces a state of sleep and relaxation, lowering your anxiety level.
- Using an oral sedative also minimizes pain and discomfort during the procedure.
- It is safe to administer and has little to no side effects.
- You will remain conscious during treatment and will be able to respond to our dentist.
Oral Sedation Procedure
Prior to any dental treatment, we will take your dental and medical history. If you struggle with mild to moderate dental phobia, we will discuss using oral sedation to help you relax during treatment. Although it is safe, we will still ensure that it does not pose any health risk.
For oral sedation, you will need to arrive an hour before your scheduled appointment. Once you take the sedative pill, it may take some time to take effect. It will induce drowsiness or a sleep-like state. You will remain responsive during treatment but won’t feel any pain or discomfort.
We will monitor your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation) at regular intervals. After completion of the dental procedure, we will assess your consciousness level before discharge.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After Oral Sedation
The effect of an oral sedative medication lasts longer than nitrous oxide sedation. After the procedure, there is a recovery of about 20 to 30 minutes. We will monitor your vitals and check your alertness status before you can be driven back home.
It is important to note that it is not safe to drive alone after oral sedation. This is because the complete effects of the sedative wear off within 24 hours. We recommend bringing a friend or family member along to help drive you back safely. Once the sedative effect wears off completely, you can return to your routine tasks.