Navigating Dental Anxiety with Oral Conscious Sedation

Going to the dentist can be a stressful and anxious experience for many people. In fact, dental phobia is one of the most common phobias, with an estimated 9-20% of Americans reporting high dental anxiety. If you feel panicked at the thought of sitting in the dental chair or worry how you'll get through an extensive dental procedure, you're not alone. Luckily, there are solutions available to help you relax and feel comfortable during your dental visits, including oral conscious sedation offered by Oyler Family Dentistry in Greendale, IN.

What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation is a technique that uses anti-anxiety medication to help patients feel more relaxed and comfortable during dental procedures. It's sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," but that's a bit of a misnomer - you don't actually fall asleep. The medications create a calming effect so you remain conscious and able to respond to requests from your dentist, but you likely won't remember much about the procedure afterwards.

Oral conscious sedation is an excellent option for people with:

• Dental phobia or high anxiety
• Sensitive gag reflexes
• Extensive dental treatment needs
• Fear of needles or shots
• Fear of drills, extractions, or other dental instruments
• Traumatic past dental experiences

How Does it Work?

Oral conscious sedation uses anti-anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines. Common options are Valium, Halcion, Ativan, and Xanax. The medications are dispensed in a calibrated dose based on factors like your age, weight, and health history.

You take the medication about an hour before your dental appointment. The medication kicks in and you begin to feel very relaxed, almost sleepy. But you remain awake and able to follow basic commands from your dentist.

Though you're awake throughout the procedure, the sedation creates an "amnesiac" effect for most patients. You likely won't remember much about the procedure afterwards. It feels almost like waking up from a nap - you know time passed, but you can't recall any details.

What Are the Sedation Benefits?

Oral conscious sedation offers many benefits:

• Helps with managing dental anxiety by reducing anxiety and fear before and during procedures
• Minimizes pain and discomfort, increasing patient comfort
• Typically no memory of the procedure afterward
• Allows extensive or complex work to be completed in fewer and shorter visits
• Promotes cooperation and compliance with the dentist's requests
• Suitable for adults and children over 12 years old
• Patients report feeling calm, comfortable and relaxed
• Little to no gagging or discomfort
• Quick recovery time after the procedure
• High patient satisfaction

With oral conscious sedation, even patients with extreme anxiety or phobias can undergo procedures they may not have been able to tolerate otherwise. The medications allow you to remain calm and relaxed so the dentistry can be performed safely and comfortably.

Is it Safe?

Oral conscious sedation is extremely safe when administered by a trained professional like the dentists at Oyler Family Dentistry. They use precisely calibrated doses and monitor you continuously throughout the procedure. Safety precautions include:

• Review of your health history and medications
• Monitoring your oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure
• Having emergency equipment on-site if needed
• Escorting you home and reviewing discharge instructions after the procedure

In addition, the sedatives used induce relaxation but do not depress your respiratory system or lead to deep unconsciousness like general anesthesia does. This makes them much safer than being "put under." With oral conscious sedation, you maintain your protective reflexes and the ability to breathe freely on your own.

Oral Sedation vs. General Anesthesia

Oral conscious sedation differs from general anesthesia in several key ways:

• You remain conscious and able to respond, just very relaxed. With general anesthesia, you are fully unconscious.
• It is far less invasive than general anesthesia.
• Recovery is faster - usually within a few hours vs. 24+ hours for general.
• There are fewer side effects and post-op discomfort.
• It can be administered by trained dentists vs. requiring an anesthesiologist.

For many dental phobia patients, oral sedation provides the perfect balance of relaxation without the risks of being fully "knocked out."

Ready to Conquer Your Dental Anxiety?

If anxiety has kept you from prioritizing your dental health, oral conscious sedation could provide the relief you need. With sedation dentistry, you can have complex treatments performed quickly, comfortably, and safely.

If dental fear has been holding you back, it's time to transform your smile - and your life. With oral conscious sedation, you can improve your oral and overall health in an atmosphere of safety, comfort and compassion. Contact Oyler Family Dentistry today to schedule a sedation consultation.