If you are extremely nervous when going to the dentist or wish to be sedated for certain dental procedures, there are different sedation options that are available to you. One of these options is oral conscious sedation. This type of sedation involves you taking a pill while you are still conscious that helps to sedate you or put you to sleep during your dental appointment. Learning the pros and cons of this type of sedation will help you determine if it is right for you. Here are a couple of the pros and cons of oral conscious sedation.
The Cons of Oral Conscious Sedation
- Requires More Patient Monitoring
One of the downsides to oral conscious sedation is that you, the patient, needs to be more closely monitored than you would be if you had inhalation sedation. The dental assistant or dentist needs to take your vital signs more frequently, which can slow down the procedure.
- Knocks You Out for a Longer Period of Time
The other disadvantage to oral conscious sedation is that it tends to knock you out for a longer period of time. With IV sedation and inhalation sedation, the sedatives can be controlled so that you are given a dose that helps to last approximately the length of your procedure. If the procedure goes longer, you can easily be given a little bit more. With a pill, it is hard to control how long the sedative lasts. As such, most dentists give you a strong dose to ensure it lasts the entire procedure. The outcome is that you may be knocked out, or feel extremely groggy for several hours.
The Pros of Oral Conscious Sedation
- Safer than IV and Inhalation Sedation
The biggest advantage to oral conscious sedation is that it is safe than both IV and inhalation sedation. There is less risk of having an adverse reaction to a sedative pill than either inhaled sedatives or those given via an IV, making this the preferred sedation method in many dental offices.
- Easy to Use
The other benefit to oral conscious sedation is that it is easy to use. There is no prep work or equipment to haul into the dental office. You simply pop a pill in your mouth, take a drink and swallow it. It is easy to get the sedative into your system. And for those who are scared of needles, there is no needle in your arm, which is another perk to this method.
If you wish to be sedated for an upcoming dental appointment or procedure, talk to your dentist about what options are available to you and which options may be right based on your medical history, dental history and the procedure being done. To learn more, contact a company like Little Peoples Dentistry.
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