If you’re on social media at all, you’ve probably seen viral videos of people who are coming out of dental procedures, still groggy from the sedatives. Sometimes people say pretty funny things! But what is it really like to be under dental sedation? Well, it depends on which type of sedation you get!
Perhaps you’re wondering how you will react to sedation. Maybe you’re anxious about your dental work. Here are the three most common sedation options your dentist may have and what kind of experience you can expect to have.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Despite its common name, laughing gas, nitrous oxide sedation doesn’t necessarily make you laugh. You will, however, have a light, calm feeling come over you within minutes of the mask being put over your nose. You simply breath in and let the gentle medication help you feel content.
You will remain awake and alert, meaning you will be aware of your surroundings and able to respond to the dentist’s questions or instructions, but the nitrous oxide takes the edge of anxiety off. One of the convenient features of this form of sedation is that it can be adjusted during the procedure to guarantee your absolute comfort. As soon as your dentist is finished, the nasal mask is removed, and within minutes you should be able to get back to your day with no side effects.
Oral Conscious Sedation
If you have more severe dental anxiety, or if you are having more complex work done, you may need a more powerful sedation option. Oral conscious sedation is administered prior to the appointment—your dentist will prescribe a pill, which you take about an hour before you arrive. The effects will kick in early, which means you will need someone to drive you to the office.
As the name implies, oral conscious sedation doesn’t put you to sleep, but you may feel like you’re in a dream-like state. You’ll be able to respond to the dentist, but you’ll likely forget details of the appointment after the sedation has worn off a few hours later. After the dental work is finished, your friend or family member can drive you home and should keep an eye on you to make sure you recover from the sedation.
IV Sedation
In some ways, IV sedation gives you a mixture of nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. Because the medication is delivered through your bloodstream, it is fast acting and can be altered during the procedure, like nitrous oxide. Like oral conscious sedation, IV sedation doesn’t exactly put you to sleep, but some feel relaxed enough to fall asleep, and you will likely not remember anything from your visit.
Awake or asleep, you will be monitored to make sure you stay safe through the procedure. When the appointment is over, it will take a while for the powerful sedation to wear off and allow you to return to normal activities.
Although your dentist can’t predict what you’ll say as a result of sedation, they can make sure you stay comfortable and relaxed throughout your treatment, helping you get the care you need to keep your smile strong and healthy!
About the Practice
At Dental Center of Lakewood, Dr. Travis Spillman and Dr. Jacquelyn Green invite everyone, especially those who have dental anxiety to receive necessary care. We offer all three types of sedation in our Dallas office, allowing us to customize to your exact needs. For IV sedation, we have a licensed anesthesiologist work with us for patient safety. If you would like to take advantage of sedation options at your next appointment, contact us online or call us at 214-823-5253 and schedule it today!