Conscious sedation sounds oxymoronic, confusing many dental patients. Conscious sedation places a patient in a twilight sleep during the procedure. General anesthesia takes a patient completely out of consciousness where conscious sedation is more relaxed, comfortable state.

At times dentists may be able to reason with their patients, carefully laying out the benefits and removing the need for any sedation. Sometimes there is a phobia present where reason is not going to solve the fear. It is for that reason that so many Cincinnati area dentists have added sedation to their regular repertoire for the simplest procedures.

Conscious sedation can be administered by intravenous (IV), oral medications, or gaseous inhalation of Nitrous oxide. Situation dictates sedation method. If a patient wants no memory of the treatment, then IV sedation is their best option.

Potential side effects are best avoided by choosing inhalation sedation, as the effect begins and ends nearly instantaneously. Gas also holds the least amount of side effects. Patients with allergies or internal organ disorders should be cautious when opting for either IV or oral sedation. Patient and dentist should thoroughly evaluate history, allergies, and other potential side effects against requirements for sedation prior to selection of method.