Sedation Dentistry: What You Should Know Before Dental Surgery

Maintaining good oral health is essential to your body's overall health, your physical and emotional well-being, and the confidence you have in your smile. Unfortunately, many challenges often prevent patients from accessing dental care, whether it be routine cleanings or more complex procedures. One of the most common reasons why people fail to access the care they need is dental anxiety which can be caused by a fear of the dentist, generalized anxiety, a past negative dental care experience, extreme tooth sensitivity, a sensitive gag reflex, or special needs.

No matter the reason a patient might experience fear stress or anxiety at the dentist, it is still important to take good care of your teeth to prevent problems from developing or worsening. At Sinclair Smiles, our goal is to make dental care accessible and positive for every patient, regardless of dental anxiety, and that's why we are pleased to offer our patients treatment eased by oral conscious sedation dentistry.  

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a branch of dentistry that uses a variety of sedative medications to provide different levels of relaxation and sedation to patients before, during, and after dental care.  

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation is a type of sedation commonly used in sedation dentistry. This type of sedation uses prescription medications taken orally to help patients feel relaxed before, during, and after dental appointments. Oral conscious sedation provides a moderate level of sedation. Though patients will sometimes dose off during care, they remain mostly awake, conscious, and able to communicate throughout treatments. Patients typically have little to no memory of their appointments after the sedative's effects have worn off.  

Oral conscious sedation is achieved using prescription medications that typically fall into the Benzodiazepine class of drugs. Common types of oral conscious sedation drugs include Valium (Diazepam), Halcion (Triazolam), and Ativan (Lorazepam).

The Benefits and Risks of Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation has many benefits, and it is largely regarded as safe for adults and children when administered at the proper dose and according to additional prescribing safety protocols. Primarily, it enables patients to access dental care without fear, stress, or anxiety. Taking these negative emotions out of dental care makes an enormous difference for a wide variety of patients including adults, children, and patients with special needs.  

Additionally, sedation dentistry makes it possible for dentists to work faster and get more done during a single dental appointment. As a result, it can also reduce costs for patients and make it easier to get complex dental work completed with fewer visits to the dental office.  

Any drawbacks and risks associated with oral conscious sedation are generally related to the sedative medications used for this type of sedation dentistry. Oral sedatives can result in lingering feelings of sleepiness or lethargy that can last for about a day. Depending on the type of medication prescribed, sedatives can also have other side effects.

We don't know how a patient will react to sedative medications before they have had them. In other words, we don't always know how effectively a sedative will relax a patient. For this reason, we might recommend that patients take a trial dose of a sedative before the day of their appointment (on a day when they do not need to travel anywhere or handle any important tasks).  

Additionally, as is the case with all types of medication, there is always a risk that a patient could have an allergic reaction, and we will provide you with information regarding the signs and symptoms to watch for that could indicate an adverse response to a sedative.  

Many risks associated with oral sedation can be mitigated with a thorough evaluation of our patient's health, current medications and supplements, and medical history.  

Additional Types of Sedation Dentistry

Light Sedation With Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide gas is administered via a breathing mask to provide a light level of relaxation. Patients remain fully awake and alert and remember their appointments. Nitrous oxide is sometimes used for simple procedures to help take the edge off of receiving dental care.

Deep Intravenous (IV) Sedation and General Anesthesia

A much deeper level of sedation or complete sedation can be achieved by administering sedatives intravenously. Patients are fully unconscious throughout their treatments and have no memory of the appointment. Intravenous sedation dentistry is typically only recommended for the most invasive and lengthy oral surgeries or in very extreme cases.  

When Is Oral Conscious Sedation Recommended?

Dental Anxiety

Oral conscious sedation is recommended for patients with more intense cases of dental anxiety who can benefit from relaxing before, during, and after their appointments in addition to having a deeper level of sedation than laughing gas can provide.

General Anxiety

Patients who experience generalized anxiety can sometimes also experience heightened feelings of stress or fear while visiting the dentist. Oral sedation can help these patients feel more calm and relaxed about having dental work done.  

Lengthy or Complex Procedures

We also recommend oral conscious sedation procedures that can be lengthy or invasive such as:  

• Dental surgery

• Gum surgery

• Dental implants

• Tooth extraction

• Root canal therapy

• Dental fillings

• Dental crowns

• Periodontal disease treatment (scaling and root planing)

Sensitive Gag Reflex

Patients who have a more sensitive gag reflex often struggle during routine dental cleanings and examinations. Oral sedation can help to relax the gag reflex, making professional dental care much more comfortable for these patients.  

Extreme Tooth Sensitivity

Having extremely sensitive teeth can make visiting the dentist painful and stressful. While we always take care to help our patients feel comfortable, using local numbing anesthetic when appropriate, oral sedation can help patients with sensitive teeth to relax and not worry about potential pain during their appointments.  

Patients With Special Needs

Patients who have sensory issues or other physical, cognitive, or behavioral special needs can benefit from oral sedation because it relaxes the patient leading up to a dental appointment, keeps the patient calm throughout care, and limits the patient's memory of the dental appointment. As a result, oral sedation helps to significantly reduce the total amount of anxiety experienced while also helping patients feel more positive about dental care.  

What to Expect with Oral Sedation

The process of oral sedation can vary depending on the type of medication you are prescribed and the type of procedure you will be undergoing. The following are some general preparatory and recovery guidelines, but our dentist will provide you with more specific instructions to ensure you are properly prepared for your appointment.  

Pre-Surgery: Preparing for Your Appointment

To prepare for an oral conscious sedation dental appointment, you might need to restrict food and drink before your appointment, not consuming anything after midnight the night before. You should also avoid consuming any caffeine within about six hours before or after your appointment and do not drink any alcohol within 24 hours of your appointment.  

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing. For some procedures, we might also require you to remove (and leave at home) contact lenses, removable dental prosthetics, and jewelry before your appointment.  

Take your medication, as prescribed about one hour before your appointment's start time. This will help you relax before the appointment and ensure the medication has taken full effect by the time your procedure begins.  

You will need transportation to and from your appointment, so be sure to arrange this ahead of time.  

Post-Surgery: Transportation, Healing, and Recovery

After your oral conscious sedation procedure, you should return home immediately and avoid operating any heavy machinery, using potentially dangerous equipment, or driving a car for at least 24 hours. You should also not climb up or down stairs without assistance, as you will be drowsy and potentially dizzy. We recommend resting in bed with your head elevated until the medication's effects have worn off. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Eat a diet of soft foods (if we have okayed it).  

How Much Does Dental Sedation Cost?

The cost of dental sedation varies depending on several factors including:

• The type of sedation recommended

• The type of medication prescribed

• The type of procedure

• The length of the procedure

• The patient's insurance coverage

Our office staff will be happy to provide you with an estimate of costs and help you navigate your insurance policy to better understand the amount of coverage you can expect for your sedation dentistry procedure.  

Relax in the Dental Chair with Conscious Sedation Dentistry in Encinitas, CA

If you struggle with fear of visiting the dentist for any reason, it's important to still take care of your teeth and have them examined and professionally cleaned regularly. Sedation dentistry is here to help you achieve and maintain good oral health - without anxiety, stress, or fear.

To learn more about sedation dentistry and how it can transform your dental care experience, we encourage you to contact Sinclair Smiles to request an appointment with our family and cosmetic dentist in Encinitas.

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