Calm, Comfortable, At Ease
Oral sedation uses a prescribed sedative medication, one of many safe and widely used sleeping pills, taken before your visit. With oral sedation, you may be sleepy but can be aroused and will respond to simple commands. Most patients doze through their appointment and remember very little of it afterward.
Oral sedation is always used together with local anesthetic: treatment is no different than if you were not sedated. The difference is that you will be much more relaxed, memory of the procedure will be minimal, and the time will seem to fly by.
Minor side effects such as nausea can occur with some medications. Before a visit in which you'll receive oral sedation, we'll give you instructions about eating and drinking, what to expect, and what to watch for after treatment. You will need assistance getting home after sedation. Plan for a driver, and plan to do nothing but rest for the remainder of the day.
A good fit for most anxious patients
- No needles to start: just a pill, which makes it ideal for the roughly 30% of adults with a fear of needles.
- Strong enough for real anxiety: patients who need more than simple reassurance do well with oral sedation.
- Works for most procedures: from deep cleanings and gum grafting to implant placement.
- Simple recovery: a ride home, a restful afternoon, and by the next morning you feel normal and rested.
Need something deeper for surgery or severe anxiety? IV sedation offers a precisely controlled twilight state; we'll help you choose at your consultation.
