Sedation Dentistry Side Effects

Sedation dentistry at Newark Periodontics & Implant Specialists is great for patients with fears and anxiety about having dental treatment. A lot of people in America actually suffer from some form of dental anxiety but dental health is too important to let fall by the wayside when you have so many options available. Dental health directly affects overall health so do you research and find a dentist that will meet your needs!

Oral sedation is one of the most common ways doctors help their patients deal with anxiety. Oral sedation keeps the patient conscious and awake but helps them stay calm and helps the muscles in their body relax. Since the patient is awake, a local anesthetic is administered for dental treatment when needed.

It is usually administered in pill form and is a benzodiazepine such as Xanax, lorazepam, diazepam, or Valium. Oral sedation is administered 30 minutes to an hour before the patient’s dental appointment. Your doctor may have medications in their office but if they do not, they will give you a prescription to have filled before your appointment. It is safe and effective and can help patients through a lot of dental treatments, which for some, includes a routine cleaning.

Are there any side effects to oral sedation?

There are some side effects to oral sedation which include:

• Drowsiness: Even though the patient is meant to stay awake, the relaxed state that oral sedation puts them in can cause some drowsiness even after the drag begins to wear off. It is best for patients to arrange transportation to and from their dental appointment to avoid any risks with driving.
• Headache: There is a potential for a mild headache after oral sedation but that should subside after a few hours and can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication.
• Cottonmouth: Dry mouth is sometimes experienced by patients that have undergone oral sedation. It is usually resolved within a few hours.
• Brain fog: It is common for patients to feel a little foggy as their oral sedation wears off. Most patients successfully have no memory of treatment which is considered a good side effect for patients with anxiety.

Side effects of oral conscious sedation are minor and resolve within a few hours. These slight side effects are a small price to pay for a healthy smile! Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease and diabetes so it is actually quite important to have regular cleanings even if you do need some form of oral sedation. If you have dental anxiety or have had a traumatic dental experience, speak with your dentist or schedule a consultation with a new dentist to see if they have sedation techniques that may be appropriate for you. Dental anxiety is common so do not be embarrassed to ask for what you need if it helps you keep regular preventative appointments with your dentist.

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