Delaying or avoiding important dental procedures because you are afraid or uncomfortable can only cause your condition to progress further, requiring even more complex treatment and potentially jeopardizing your oral health. Dr. Rohinton J. Patel and our team offer conscious sedation as a convenient way to relax you for your dental procedure. Patients who opt for oral conscious sedation at our Honolulu, HI office simply take a pill before their scheduled treatment to help them remain calm and comfortable. This simple and effective form of sedation can help patients with dental phobia or anxiety, a highly sensitive gag reflex, back or neck issues, or any other conditions that could interfere with treatment. To learn more about how oral conscious sedation could benefit your oral health, please contact our office and schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel.
Video: Sedation Dentistry
Many patients are anxious about visiting the dentist, to the point that some avoid making appointments for years. In order to ensure a comfortable experience, Dr. Rohinton Patel and his team at Hawaii Pacific Dental Group offer a wide range of sedation dentistry options, from laughing gas to IV sedation. We are one of the first practices in the state to have an anesthesiologist in the office to monitor sedation use during surgical procedures.
View MoreConvenient Relaxation for Your Treatment
The active ingredient in oral conscious sedation pills is usually a form of Halcion or Valium, drugs that help your body relax. Dr. Patel will customize your dosage level based on the type of procedure you will undergo and your level of anxiety. A smaller dose will have only a light influence while a larger dose can have up to a moderate effect. As its name suggests, patients remain conscious under this type of sedation.
If you opt for oral conscious sedation, you will take your prescribed sedative about one hour before your treatment. This ensures that you will be very calm by the time of your appointment. You may also feel drowsy or disoriented once your sedative takes effect. Oral conscious sedation does not dull sensation in your teeth or gums, so we will still need to apply a local anesthetic, although this should be much more comfortable for you after you have taken your sedative pill.
During your procedure, you will remain awake so you can follow Dr. Patel’s instructions, but you should feel very relaxed and peaceful. For some people, oral conscious sedatives have an amnesiac effect, so you may not remember your procedure. The effects of oral conscious sedation can take up to 24 hours to wear off, so you will need a friend or family member to drive you home. You should plan on missing work or school on the day of your procedure, but most patients are able to return to regular activities the next day.
Who is a Candidate?
Oral conscious sedation can help you remain more comfortable during a variety of procedures, from a tooth extraction to a smile makeover. For simpler treatments such as cleanings or fillings, Dr. Patel might recommend nitrous oxide sedation instead, since this type has a shorter recovery period. If you need an intensive procedure like dental implant placement or full mouth reconstruction, intravenous sedation might be a more suitable option.
Patients with allergies to these types of medications, sleep apnea, liver issues, kidney conditions, or a particularly low body weight may not be good candidates for oral conscious sedation. Dr. Patel can review your sedation dentistry options and help you choose the right type for your needs and preferences.
Learn More About Oral Conscious Sedation
Simply taking a pill could help you stay relaxed during your dental procedure so you can maintain your beautiful smile. Contact our office today to learn more about oral conscious sedation or schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel.
