SEDATION DENTISTRY

There are 2 primary kinds of Sedation used in Dentistry

1. Unconscious Sedation – This is most commonly referred to as “general anesthesia” and is usually used in a hospital and administered by an anesthesiologist. With unconscious sedation, the muscles stop working and the anesthesiologist requires machines in the operating room to breathe for the patient.
2. Conscious Sedation – In “Sedation Dentistry” all body functions remain normal and person is able to breathe on their own. This type of sedation is a state of very deep relaxation. You can still speak and respond to the requests of others. Conscious sedation has an amnesic effect for some patients and they will remember virtually nothing about their dental appointment.

There are 2 common forms of Conscious Sedation

1. I.V. (intravenous) Sedation – This method uses medications administered directly into the person’s bloodstream. It is more predictable because a patient can be given more or less medication and the effects are instantaneous.
2. Oral Sedation – This is administered in the form of a pill or liquid. It is less predictable because in pill form the effects are delayed. Oral sedation has more benefits to the patient: lesser fee, easier to administer by mouth than by IV, generally safer and easier to monitor, almost all people respond very favorably to orally administered sedation.