Oral sedation is a branch under sedation dentistry that involves using a pill to sedate the patient before carrying out a dental procedure. Oral sedation, also known as Pill Sedation, is the most straightforward form of sedation in contrast to the other two are Intravenous (IV) Sedation and Nitrous Oxide Sedation.
In Oral Sedation, a sedative pill is given to the patient through the oral passage at least an hour before the procedure is carried out. The pill helps relax the mind by removing the patients’ inhibitions of fear. The sedative administered is a type of benzodiazepine that helps patients with belonephobia (fear of sharp objects like needles), generalized anxiety, and past dental trauma(s).
Below are a few pros and cons of oral sedation in Newport Beach.
Pros of Oral Sedation:
- Painless administration: The process of administering the sedative is done by using a prescribed pill by the dentist before your appointment. Hence, the patient is relaxed at the time of the appointment or procedure.
- No Needles: In contrast to intravenous sedation, oral sedation does not involve pricking the patient with needles while the latter does.
- Overall Safety: Since all the sedatives prescribed are FDA approved and regulated, it is not likely for a patient to experience any severe side effects.
- Patient Responsiveness: Pill sedation does induce the patient into a state of drowsiness but does not leave the patient unconscious, therefore, enabling them to respond to the dentist.
- Amnesia: the dentist usually prescribes a pretty strong dose of benzodiazepine, which would leave little to no memory of the procedure in the patient’s mind.
Cons of Oral Sedation:
- Delayed effect: unlike nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation, pill sedation does take some time to kick into sedate the patient while the former two sedate the patient rather quickly.
- Common side effects: nausea and fatigue are two of the most common withdrawals noticed in a couple of patients when recovering from the sedative.
- Need of a companion: since the pill is to be taken in advance, the patient may not be in a position or state to take themselves to the dentist and hence would need a companion to accompany them at all times.
- Allergic Reactions: the patient must disclose the medicine or drug they take to avoid any allergic reaction.
- Inexact time of sedation: every patient metabolizes the pill differently and at varied paces. Therefore, it is to be monitored closely when the effects of sedation kick in.
Note: Every patient is distinct, and therefore it is not likely for a majority of patients to face the cons, and it is safe overall.
