Oral Conscious Sedation: How Can It Benefit You?

If fear or anxiety about dental visits is preventing you from getting the quality care you deserve, sedation dentistry may be the solution you need. Through oral conscious sedation, you can have carefree, relaxing dental treatments to keep your smile strong and healthy year after year. You can learn more about oral conscious sedation from Dr. Farshad Farhoumand and associates at Avanti Dentistry in Tysons, Virginia.

Here are some questions we’re often asked about sedation dentistry:

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry makes use of medication to help anxious or fearful patients relax for the dental services they need. Dental care can be intimidating for many people, so much so that they stay clear of the dental chair for years! Sedation dentistry takes stress and fear out of seeing your dentist so you can benefit from better oral health.  

What is oral conscious sedation?

Oral conscious sedation comes in the form of a pill that you take about an hour before starting your procedure. This pill makes you feel groggy or sleepy, which helps keep you calm and relaxed in the dental chair. You’ll still be conscious and able to communicate with your dentist, but you won’t feel anxious or fearful during your procedure. Chances are you’ll still feel groggy by the end of your treatment, so we recommend you have a relative or friend available to drive you home at the end of your appointment.

How long does oral conscious sedation last?

That depends on the dosage you receive from your dentist and the way your body reacts to the medication. We will tailor your sedation medication to meet your specific dental needs. We may recommend a stronger dosage for long or complex treatments to ensure you’re totally relaxed for the duration of your procedure. In like manner, a less potent dosage will suffice for moderate dental treatments. For the most part, the effects of oral conscious sedation rarely extend beyond 24 hours.

Does sedation replace anesthesia for pain management?

No. Invasive dental treatments that require pain management will generally be done using local or general anesthesia. Although our sedation options also help minimize pain, they’re used more for comfort and relaxation, so our anxious patients can have stress-free dental visits.

Who can benefit from oral conscious sedation?

If anxiety and fear keep you miles from the dental chair, you can benefit from sedation dentistry. Oral conscious sedation will make it easier to get quality dental care without stress, anxiety, or fear. Dentistry has so much to offer in the way of preventive, restorative, orthodontic, and periodontal treatments to improve the quality of your smile. With sedation dentistry, you’ll be able to avail yourself of dental services that can help you keep your teeth for life!