Oral Conscious Sedation at Gentle Dental

June 2010

If visiting the dentist induces a small amount of fear or anxiety— you're not alone. Many Americans have mild dental anxiety, especially when faced with a procedure they haven't experienced in the past. However if your fear has escalated to a severe phobia that is prohibiting you from getting needed dental work done, there are many methods your dentist can use to make you feel calm and relaxed, including oral sedation.

"Conscious sedation involves the use of an anti-anxiety medication administered orally," said Dr. Jarom L. John of Gentle Dental. "The patient is still awake and even able to answer questions and follow instructions, but is in an extremely relaxed state of mind."

Besides relaxation, the benefit of conscious sedation is that the medication induces temporary amnesia, so the patient will have no memory of some, or even all, of the dental treatment. The time passes very quickly under this sedation so the patient may leave feeling as if they were asleep during the treatment.

"Patients wishing to receive this treatment will be given a pill to take before coming into our office," says Dr. John. "When they arrive they are already relaxed and ready to receive additional oral relaxing medication."

Dr. John says he waits until the patient is sedated and then administers the local anesthetic inside the patient's mouth.

"Receiving these dental shots is often part of what creates dental anxiety, but after receiving the sedation, patients are not bothered by this procedure," he says.

The patient will be numbed as much as every other patient, so they should feel no pain while in the dental chair.

Oral conscious sedation is a very safe method of relaxation for dental patients. Patients are watched carefully during the entire procedure using devices to monitor their breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Conscious sedation is said to be safer than general anesthesia.

Upon completion, patients are not permitted to leave the dental office unescorted. They must also be escorted to the office if they were given medication prior to arriving.

"There are many advantages to oral conscious sedation," says Dr. John. "For people with moderate to severe dental anxiety, the greatest advantage is the amnesia. Not knowing or remembering what happened in the chair makes them feel very relaxed and secure."

Another advantage is that the gag reflex is hugely diminished. Patients receiving oral sedation rarely have problems gagging during dental procedures. Although patients are in a deep state of relaxation, they can still answer questions or express concerns during the procedure if something doesn't feel right.

Dr. Jarom John, Dr. Bryan Medaris, and Dr. Jonathan Scott have received specialized advanced training and certification by the Idaho State Board of Dental Examiners, which qualifies them to administer oral conscious sedation.

Talk to your Gentle Dental dentist if you experience severe dental anxiety to see if oral conscious sedation is a good choice for you.