Conscious Sedation Specialist
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Sauer Dentistry
General Dentistry located in Greenwood, IN
If you put off oral health care due to dental anxiety or a sensitive gag reflex, conscious sedation can help. At Sauer Dentistry, Aaron Sauer, DDS, Whitney Marsh, DMD, and the team offer several types of conscious sedation, including nitrous oxide and oral sedatives. To make an appointment at the practice in Greenwood, Indiana, call the office or click the online booking feature today.
Conscious Sedation Q&A
What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation uses oral sedatives or nitrous oxide to help you relax during dental treatment. Contrary to popular belief, conscious sedation doesn’t cause you to fall asleep. You might feel drowsy, but you can still follow instructions or answer your provider’s questions.
At Sauer Dentistry, the team offers sedatives that are swallowed or inhaled. As a result, there are no injections, anxiety, or pain.
Who can benefit from conscious sedation?
At Sauer Dentistry, the team recommends conscious sedation to people who:
- Experience dental anxiety
- Have a sensitive gag reflex
- Need extensive dental work done
- Find it difficult to sit still
You might also benefit from sedation dentistry if you have a low pain tolerance or incredibly sensitive teeth.
What are the types of conscious sedation?
At Sauer Dentistry, the team offers several types of conscious sedation:
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide causes you to feel happy and relaxed. It’s a colorless, odorless gas that you inhale through a mask. Your provider can adjust the amount of nitrous oxide you receive, ensuring your comfort throughout the entire procedure.
Oral conscious sedation
If you have severe dental anxiety, the team might recommend oral conscious sedation. The medicines used in oral conscious sedation are benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that reduce anxiety, ease muscle spasms, and dull the senses.
Some of the most common drugs used in oral conscious sedation include Halcion®, Valium®, and Ativan®. About an hour before your appointment, you take the medication. About an hour later, it kicks in, causing you to feel drowsy and relaxed.
Oral conscious sedation takes several hours to wear off, so you need to have someone drive you home after the procedure.
Is oral conscious sedation safe?
Oral conscious sedation is safe and usually well-tolerated. Still, all types of anesthesia present some risks. If you have an underlying medical condition that might increase your risk of complications, like a congenital heart issue or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), let the team know.
Following a review of your medical history, they can make recommendations for treatment that align with your needs.
To explore the benefits of oral conscious sedation, make an appointment at Sauer Dentistry by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.
