Oral Sedation
Sedation is a widely used method to make the patient comfortable while undergoing medical treatment. There are several types of sedation such as inhalation sedation, IV sedation, and oral sedation.
Sedation does not always mean that you are asleep. You might be drowsy and very relaxed yet still aware of their surroundings.
Sedation is used for people who are nervous at the dentist and may choose not to be treated unless they are sedated. Sedation will help them to feel comfortable and ensure that necessary treatment is received.
If you are not a candidate for sedation then the alternative is a general anesthetic. Under a ‘general’, you will be unconscious through the process.
WHAT IS ORAL SEDATION?
Oral sedation takes the form of a tablet or capsule which is taken by mouth. You will need to take this medicine one hour before your treatment, and are advised not to drive or drink alcohol during this period.
EFFECTS OF ORAL SEDATION
Oral sedation numbs down your senses so you will have less response to sound, smell and pain. They also cause a mild form of amnesia so you are likely not to remember a great deal about your treatment other than very general feelings or memories.
If you are taking any medication, let us know before we prescribe an oral sedative. Also let us know if you have an allergy to certain types of medication. Oral sedation is not a fit for every patient, and depends on the individual situation.
NITROUS INHALANT SEDATION (Laughing Gas)
This sedation choice has more names than any other sedation technique: inhalation sedation, laughing gas, relative analgesia, RA, happy gas, gas and air, nitrous, nitrous oxide, N2O-O2 and more. Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen (O2) has been described as a nearly ideal sedation technique for dentistry.
Discovered in 1772, Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gas which you can absorb through breathing. Depending on the amount of laughing gas given and the duration, the patient may experience some of the following (nitrous also causes a light headed feeling initially):
- Tingling sensation in the arms and legs, quickly followed by
- A sensation of warmth &
- A feeling of calmness, euphoria and the sensation of free floating
