Sedation Dentistry: Will I feel groggy after my treatment is over?

Sedation Dentistry: Will I feel groggy after my treatment is over?

Many patients choose sedation dentistry when undergoing oral surgery, and for good reason. Sedation dentistry helps improve the patient experience, and for some particularly fearful patients, it’s the primary factor that helps them access much needed treatment.

The drugs in sedation dentistry help patients achieve a state of deep relaxation while remaining conscious. One popular method is oral sedation, in which the patient takes the sedative medication in pill form.

The medications not only increase patient comfort during the oral surgery; they also leave the patient with no memory of the procedure after it is complete.

Although the effects of oral sedation are reversed relatively quickly, generally within a matter of a few hours, patients do remain groggy immediately after treatment. As such, patients who opt for sedation must make arrangements for a responsible adult to accompany them home following the procedure.

It’s also a good idea to have that person stay with you for a few hours even after you return home until you fully recover from the sedation in case you need any additional assistance.

Of course, several factors will influence the duration of sedation’s effects. The amount of medication you take, your body composition and the nature and complexity of the procedure are all likely to factor into your recovery.

Oral sedation comes with a number of advantages. It’s appealing to patients who are skittish about needles and prefer to avoid intravenous drug delivery.

Additionally, the airway stays open with all forms of sedation dentistry, in contrast to general anesthesia, which requires that the patient receive mechanical assistance with breathing during the procedure. In this way, sedation dentistry offers a safer alternative to general anesthesia.

If you are extremely anxious about an upcoming oral surgery procedure or even if you just want optimal comfort during the process, talk to Dr. Carlos Ibanez to see if you can take advantage of oral sedation. Call 434-295-0911 to learn how to develop plans for before and after the procedure to ensure that you will be prepared for your appointment.