.png)
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation uses a pill-based sedative to keep you feeling calm, safe, and comfortable. You’ll take the sedative an hour or two before your procedure. Once it takes effect, you’ll start to feel very relaxed, comfortable, and groggy. You may even fall asleep during your procedure.
It’s also very common to experience “anterograde amnesia,” which causes you to forget much of what happens during your dental procedure. Oral conscious sedation is a good option if you want to be sedated more deeply than nitrous oxide.
However, it can last up to 4-6 hours after your treatment, and you cannot drive yourself home or go back to work after your treatment. You’ll need to make the appropriate arrangements to prepare for this.
How Sedation Can Help
Sedation dentistry is often chosen by patients who experience dental anxiety or discomfort, and it can be helpful for a wide range of treatments—from routine care to more involved procedures. Sedation is designed to promote relaxation and comfort, allowing patients to feel more at ease throughout their visit.
Sedation may also be beneficial for individuals who are sensitive to dental sensations, have a low pain tolerance, or feel uneasy about injections used for local anesthesia. In these cases, sedation can help reduce awareness of the procedure and improve overall comfort.
Other patients find sedation helpful if they have a strong gag reflex, difficulty remaining comfortable for extended periods, or require multiple procedures during a single visit. Sedation can make longer appointments feel more manageable and relaxed.
At Spring Smiles, Dr. Duncan will discuss whether sedation dentistry is appropriate for your individual needs and treatment plan, with the goal of ensuring a calm, safe, and comfortable dental experience.
.png)