Manage Dental Fears With Oral Sedation

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It has been estimated that 50% of Americans avoid going to the dentist at all costs. Many people will wait until they are in severe pain to make that dreaded phone call that will put them out of their misery. With routine dental checkups, a lot of the pain and suffering of an infected tooth could be avoided. Unfortunately most people wait until it is too late to prevent major dental problems.

Oral conscious sedation is a way to manage pain for the extremely fearful dental patient. In oral sedation, a pill is taken prior to the dental appointment to help relax the patient and control anxiety. The patient will need to be driven to his dental appointment by a companion. During the procedure, the patient will be awake and will be able to follow commands, but he will have a depressed level of consciousness, and may feel out of it and groggy. The pill that is given has an amnesia effect. After the procedure is over, it is very likely that the patient will have little or no memory of the visit from the time the pill took effect.

The Advantages Of Oral Sedation
There are many benefits to oral sedation. One of the main benefits is the patient is able to breathe on his own without assistance. It also allows people to have multiple procedures done all at once rather than several visits over a period of time. It is easy to administer, and it is relatively low in cost. It also may help reduce postoperative pain for a few hours. Oral sedation is good for people who do not like needles and prefer not to have IV sedation.

The Disadvantages Of Oral Sedation
Oral sedation also has a few drawbacks started withthat it is not usually covered by dental insurance. It requires someone to accompany the patient to his dental appointment and drive him home afterwards. The patient will need his companion to stay with him for a few hours until the sedation has worn off. Driving is prohibited for 24 hours after taking oral sedation. Also, the level of sedation can be unpredictable in different patients and it is not easy to reduce.

The most common prescribed medication for oral sedation is Halcion. The generic for Halcion is triazolam. Valium and Dalmane are also sometimes used. Children are usually prescribed Versed, which comes in liquid form. Dentists may also prescribe triazolam or flurazepam to help the patient sleep the night before the dental procedure is scheduled. The dentist will check the patient’s medical history for allergies and drug interactions prior to prescribing medication.

Who Benefits The Most From Oral Sedation
Good candidates for oral sedation are those who have a history of traumatic dental experiences. People who are fearful of the drilling sounds and smell associated with dental offices are also prime candidates as it depresses the person’s consciousness of these things. Other people who often choose to have oral sedation are people who have trouble getting numb or those who have bad gag reflexes. Oral sedation will relieve the anxiety associated with dental treatment and make the experience as comfortable as possible.