Oral conscious sedation in San Jose, CA

Oral conscious sedation involves taking an oral sedative (usually Halcion) approximately one hour before your appointment. You will then feel relaxed and experience some amnesia, so you won’t remember the procedure.

When is oral conscious sedation used?

Oral sedation is recommended for patients who have severe dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or an extremely sensitive gag reflex. It is also recommended for patients who are undergoing multiple treatments or procedures in one visit.

How is oral conscious sedation administered?

Oral conscious sedation involves taking prescription anti-anxiety medication, usually in pill form, about an hour prior to your procedure. The medication will make you drowsy and calm for the duration of treatment, but you will not be unconscious. Oral sedation can be administered in small doses or in larger doses, depending on the patient’s needs.

Benefits of oral conscious sedation

Oral conscious sedation allows you to undergo your needed procedure while remaining awake. Because of this, oral conscious sedation is commonly referred to as “twilight” sedation.

Oral conscious sedation offers a number of benefits over other forms of sedation.

• It offers a higher level of relaxation.
• It allows for shorter recovery times.
• It is simple to administer and can be adjusted.
• It is safe.
• It can help patients be in control during dental procedures. 
• Decreases the sensitivity to pain
• Decreases gag reflex
• Since the medicine is administered in pill form, patients don’t have to deal with needles or IVs pre-op.
• The dentist can perform more dental work in one visit than would be possible using alternative forms of sedation.
• Many patients have little or no memory of their dental appointment.
• The patient can eat and drink prior to treatment.

If you suffer from dental anxiety or phobias, oral conscious sedation can help you feel more relaxed and calm and give you a better dental experience.

Is oral conscious sedation safe?

Oral conscious sedation is extremely safe when administered by a trained dentist. When administered properly, the patient will feel no pain or discomfort and will have no memory of the dental procedure. 

You will remain under supervision for approximately 2-4 hours following oral conscious sedation. During this time, you will need to have someone drive you home, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day.