Sedation and Anxiety Control
Sedation refers to the state of relaxation acheived by prescribed medication. Your dentist may choose to sedate you if the procedure planned is unpleasant, likely to take a long time or if you are anxious and apprehensive.
Several forms of sedation and/or anxiety control are used:
- oral benzodiazepines
Oral sedation involves your taking pills prescribed by your dentist up to one hour before surgery. These pills will cause you to go into a relaxed state and reduce your anxiety levels. Oral sedation will NOT put you to sleep, but make the whole procedure far more relaxing and lessen your anxiety levels.
- intravenous sedation
Intravenous sedation is carried out by injectin a sedative into a vein in your arm. This form of sedation produces a far more profound state of relaxation and you may go into a very relaxed state but still remain conscious. A side effect of this form of sedation is the amnesic effects of the drug whereby you forget any or all events after administration of the drug.
- anxiety control
By proper explanation of the procedure and being assured of the possibility of pain or otherwise, your dentist may reduce the levels of your anxiety. For mildy anxious persons, this approach is all that is necessary.
If you are intending to receive sedation, your dentist will advise you to have a chaperone to take you home and to watch over you for a few hours. You will NOT be able to drive or operate machinery after sedation for at least 24 hours.
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