Most dental offices provide some level of sedation dentistry for patients who are anxious, have sensitive teeth, or who need to complete numerous procedures in fewer appointments. The majority of dentists are certified to offer nitrous oxide, laughing gas, and most patients are familiar with this form of sedative. However, many patients are less knowledgeable about oral conscious and intravenous (IV) sedation. Keep reading to learn more about these two advanced forms of sedation dentistry and how they can improve your dental treatment experience.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral conscious sedation creates a mild to moderate sedative effect through the administration of a prescription prior to the visit. The type of sedative the dentist prescribes will depend in large part on any other medications or health concerns that need to be taken into consideration. You’ll need to take the prescribed sedative medication about an hour before your appointment. Before you even leave for the office, you should feel very calm and relaxed. A friend or family member will need to drive you to and from your appointment. Throughout treatment, you will remain relaxed and may nod a bit, but for the most part, you will remain conscious, as the name implies. Following your procedure, you should plan to rest for between 12 and 24 hours. Every person responds differently, so make sure to plan ahead for extra help around the house or to be away from the office.
What is IV Sedation?
IV sedation allows the dentist to achieve a level of relaxation similar to what is possible with oral sedatives. However, rather than taking a pill at home and hoping to reach the ideal level of sedation at exactly the right time, the dentist controls the entire administration process in the office. That means your level of sedation can be quickly adjusted throughout treatment to ensure you are completely comfortable. The effects of IV sedation can last as long or longer than oral sedatives, so you will still need to make plans for travel to and from our office.
What Sedation Option is Right for Me?
No two patients are alike, and every sedation dentistry plan will be customized to meet your needs. Before choosing a sedation option, you should consider the following:
- Past responses to sedation (when applicable)
- Current medications that may not mix with sedatives
- The extent of your dental procedure
- Physician’s recommendation for safety, especially if you struggle with chronic or systemic illness
Meet the Luminous Smile Team
If you’re looking for a Massapequa Park dentist and team who offer oral conscious and IV dental sedation, give the Luminous Smile at South Shore Dental Care a call. Our team is certified to provide multiple levels of dental sedation to ensure patients are completely comfortable throughout their time in our office. If you would like to learn more about the dental services we provide for patients in Massapequa Park and surrounding communities, we invite you to visit our dentistry blog regularly to read more about dentistry services and oral health.