It’s completely understandable to feel uneasy about visiting the dentist. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience, or maybe you are naturally sensitive to having anyone work on your teeth. In any case, you shouldn’t neglect your oral health because of fear, especially when sedation dentistry can make your visit easy.
There are several ways your dentist can relax you before an appointment, and oral conscious sedation is one of the most popular. If you’re curious about this type of medication, here’s a quick guide that should help you out.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sedation dentistry is the general term describing the use of relaxing medication to make a procedure easier for both the patient and the dentist. This can allow people who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to go to the dentist to endure, and even enjoy, their visit. It also makes longer procedures easier, as the patient will be less likely to move or fidget.
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Sedation in general might sound like it’s a good fit for you, but how exactly does oral conscious sedation work?
Your dentist will give you a small pill to take just before your dental appointment, timed so that the effects are strongest when you arrive. Just make sure you have a ride there and back, as driving under the effects of the sedative is not recommended. If your schedule allows, you can also take the sedative at the dentist’s office.
Should I Try Oral Conscious Sedation?
OCS is an excellent option for people who are ordinarily too anxious to visit the dentist’s office, who have abnormally sensitive teeth, or who happen to have a strong gag reflex. All OCS involves is taking a single pill, so it’s significantly less involved than, say, IV sedation. Not to mention, you won’t have to receive any kind of injection. It’s also stronger than some other methods like nitrous oxide. The pill itself won’t put you to sleep, so oral sedation is perfect if you need to be conscious (but not that conscious) for a procedure.
Hopefully, this guide gave you some much-needed information about oral conscious sedation. It’s a great choice for people who want to be awake but need something a little bit stronger than just a numbing agent. If you’re nervous about your first dental visit in a while, talk to your dentist about oral conscious sedation as an option.
About Our Practice
At Rancho Park Dental Group we want to ensure that your every need is being met, which means making you as comfortable as possible throughout your appointment. We understand why dentistry might make you nervous, and we want to assure you that you are well cared for. If you have any further questions about sedation dentistry, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (310) 575-0886.