Conscious Sedation

Many Cincinnati-area general and cosmetic dentists advertise "conscious sedation". But, how can a patient remain conscious and be sedated at the same time? Some advertising refers to this as "wilight sleep", and which provides the patient with a sense of deep calm during the dental procedure.

Some people do not fear a trip to the dentist at all, or do well with some relaxation techniques or open discussion with their dentist about what each procedure might involve. But, many Cincinnati residents avoid even the most basic dental work because of their fear of discomfort associated with dental treatment. Cincinnati dentists have responded to this need and now offer sedation dentistry services as a rule, not only for the more complex dental work like fillings and surgery, but also for the most rudimentary dental cleaning.

Conscious sedation can be carried out by intravenous drugs, oral drugs, or gaseous inhalation. The patient in consultation with their dentist will decide the sedation method most suitable for them and the dental procedure being performed. A patient could choose IV sedation if they don’t want to recall any part of the treatment.

Alternately, a person concerned about the lingering effects of IV or oral medications may opt for the gas, which wears off almost immediately. When a patient is really afraid of dental procedures or even a regular dental check up, they might opt for the most effective sedation technique available, IV sedation or inhaled gaseous sedatives.

Are there any "downsides" to choosing sedation? Apart from the health factors and possible allergies to the medications used, an IV or oral sedation patient will require a ride to and from the dental procedure. Many patients are terrified of needles, in which case IV sedation may not be an appropriate option since the sedative is injected into the patient’s arm or hand. Once the IV sedation has rendered the patient relaxed and many cases sleeping, a local anaesthetic will be injected into and around the site(s) being treated.

The efficacy of the oral sedative varies from patient to patient and the dosage prescribed. Each person’s metabolism, body weight and health status is different, meaning that a particular dose may not provide the appropriate amount of sedation or anti-anxiety protection for each person.

It is wise to discuss in detail with a qualified, experienced Cincinnati dentist everything related to the treatment before deciding on a method of sedation.