Oral Conscious Sedation While taking care of your mouth at home with regular brushing and flossing is essential for keeping it healthy is essential, professional care is also needed. Along with regular dental cleanings and exams, sometimes professional dental treatments are needed to fix oral health issues and restore the condition of your mouth. However, if the idea of even stepping foot in a dental office triggers anxiety or fear, you may do everything you can to avoid going. Avoiding treatment can lead to more serious issues later on, which often require more invasive treatments. At Palani Center for Dental Implants, we can help you to relax, and enable you to get your necessary dental care, with conscious sedation.Why Conscious Sedation?Dental care is important for maintaining a healthy mouth. Whether it is a simple cleaning and exam or a procedure designed to restore the health of your mouth in the event of an issue, ignoring these necessary procedures can have serious consequences. If the thought of dental treatments causes you anxiety or fear, you may do everything you can to avoid it. With conscious sedation, we can help you relax and remain calm and comfortable. You can get the treatments you need when you need them. While anxiety and fear are common reasons for conscious sedation, there are other uses for it as well.
Nitrous OxideNitrous oxide is more commonly known as laughing gas. It is the lightest form of sedation, used simply to take the edge off. It involves the inhalation of a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small mask placed over your nose. Before your treatment begins, the gases are turned on, and you breathe them in. The sedative takes effect almost immediately, and you begin to feel calmer and more relaxed. Because it is such a mild form of sedation, you are still completely conscious throughout your procedure, and you can respond to any questions or requests we have while we work. Once your procedure is complete, the nitrous oxide is shut off, but the oxygen remains on for a few additional minutes. The effects of this sedative wear off just as quick as it takes effect, and there are no lingering side effects. Moderate Sedation OptionsIf you are more than just a little anxious, we also can offer moderate conscious sedation. There are two options for this type of sedative, oral and IV. Oral conscious sedation involves the use of a medication that is taken by mouth about an hour before your procedure. It typically takes about 30 minutes for the medication to kick in. IV sedation involves delivering the sedative medication directly into your bloodstream through a needle. Before your procedure, you will need to abstain from eating or drinking for at least 6 to 8 hours. When you sit down in the chair, a needle is inserted either into the back of your hand or into your arm. The needle is attached to IV fluids. The medication is administered into the IV. It takes effect almost immediately. The effects of oral and IV sedation are fairly similar. They put you into a sleepy state, but you are still conscious throughout your procedure. Many patients report being unable to recall parts, or even any, of their procedure. Once your procedure is over, the effects of the sedative can linger for several hours, so you will need to make sure that you have a driver to bring you home. Before your procedure, we will discuss the pros and cons of both types of sedation and help you to choose the best option for you. Whether you need a simple cleaning and exam, a root canal, or dental implants, conscious sedation can help you to relax and remain calm, enabling you to safely get your procedure done. For more information, and to find out which conscious sedation option is right for you, call Palani Center for Dental Implants today at (310) 894-8337. |
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