Should You Use Oral Sedation For Your Dental Procedure?

When you have a fear of going to the dentist, it may be recommended that you use sedation to get through your procedure. There are several types of dental sedation available to you, but a very common method among adults is oral sedation. Before deciding if it is right for you, understand the advantages and disadvantages of using the method.

Advantages of Taking Oral Sedation

This form of sedation involves ingesting a pill before your visit to the dentist. A commonly used drug for oral sedation is triazolam, but your dentist may recommend a brand name or different drug that has similar effects.

Many patients like using oral sedation because the drug helps them feel relaxed and calm throughout the entire procedure. Once you take the pill, it can cause you to feel groggy, yet still comfortable. It can even cause you to fall asleep while the procedure is being performed.

Since the pill will kick in before you leave for the dentist, it will eliminate those feelings of sitting around and feeling anxious or nervous about the appointment. You will be not as likely to back out at the last moment after the drug kicks in.

Disadvantages of Taking Oral Sedation

The biggest disadvantage of oral sedation is how it may be difficult to get the dosage and timing correct. It's common for the dentist to have you take the medication 1 hour prior to your appointment, but people react to medications in different ways. It's possible that pill will not work quickly enough, or that the pill will wear off prematurely. Unless you have taken the pill before, you may end up taking a medication that wears off when you need it the most.

Since the pill should be taken at home, you will need to depend on another person that can drive you to your dental appointment. The pill can affect your timing, thinking, and reflexes, which makes it not a good idea to drive while you are under the influence of the drug. Even if you feel fine at home, the medication may kick in while you are on the road.

If you are not sure if oral sedation is best for you, discuss your options with a dentist, like those represented at http://hcdentistry.com. You may discover an alternative sedation method that will work better for your situation, or learn that oral sedation is the best method when compared to the other options available to you.