Conscious sedation dentistry is a form of treatment that helps you relax during a complicated dental procedure, for instance, root canals, dental cleaning, and fillings. It makes you aware of what is happening without any distress. The sedation dentistry specialists in Sugar Land, Texas, use various drug options to help you relax. At Colony Dental, we value our patients’ opinions on the type of sedative they want.
Some of the Drugs Used
- Laughing Gas
It is administered through inhalation, and it helps in relaxation before a dental procedure. Its effects wear off quickly, and you may experience side effects, which include nausea, fatigue, dizziness, shivering, and excessive sweating.
Oxygen, most of the time, accompanies the laughing gas or is given after five minutes to help clear the remaining laughing gas in your body after the treatment. Despite this, you have to wait for about fifteen minutes to be fully alert before going home if you are alone. Eating a snack before the procedure will help avoid vomiting and nausea.
It can be administered to both adults and children. If you experience any allergic reaction, you should visit your doctor.
2. Ketamine
It is used to reduce pain. The dentist injects it in the vein, and the effects start showing after a few seconds. If you have cases of blood pressure, inform your dentist beforehand.
3. Valium
It is used where an extensive dental procedure is needed. They are administered orally as tablets. The most common side effects include headache, muscle weakness, and nausea. Avoiding alcohol is recommended when on this sedative.
4. Propofol
It is injected in the veins. It does not last long if not mixed with an anesthetic. The drug can be administered continuously throughout the procedure. This drug quickly wears off after the treatment. If you have any allergies, you should inform your dentist. The common side effect is the fall of blood pressure level.
The method used to administer relies on the type of drug your doctor is using. When these sedatives are being used on you, a local anesthetic has to be given to numb your sensations.
There Are Three Phases of Sedation You Should Expect
- Anxiolysis. The sedation is minimal, and you are fully relaxed and aware of your environment. You can respond to your doctor using verbal cues.
- Moderate sedation. You are drowsy and slurring in your verbal communication. At this phase, you are losing consciousness.
- Deep sedation. You are at the edge of consciousness but can be aroused and respond to continued stimuli of pain.
Process of Sedation
First, sit or lie on the medical table, and get comfortable. Be ready for sedation.
Depending on the sedative, you will receive it through one of the following ways; orally, through an injection, an IV line, or using an inhaler. The amount of sedative given depends on the period the procedure will take.
After some time, the sedative will start to be effective. Sedatives are given through the IV line take less than a minute to work, while oral sedatives take half an hour to an hour to kick in. You may start feeling sleepy and relaxed, thus eliminating anxiety and fear. The effects may vary from one person to another.
The dentist then will monitor your breathing and blood pressure for any changes. An oxygen mask may be needed to stabilize your breathing if it is shallow or you have low blood pressure.
In the last step, the dentist will start the procedure immediately after the sedative kicks in. The sedative will take half an hour if the procedure is an easy fix and could last for hours for complex procedures.
What Happens After the Sedation
After the dentist is done with you, they check your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing until it’s normal.
Have a family member or a friend take you home since some sedatives take long before wearing off, for instance, the laughing gas. Other side effects like drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness may last for the rest of the day.
The sedation dentistry in Sugar Land recommends you avoid intense activity after the procedure and, if possible, take a day off from work.