Sedation Dentistry Side Effects?
In order to maintain good overall health and strong dental health, it is important to have routine exams and screenings by a dentist. It is common for people to avoid dental appointments out of fear, but other people experience serious anxiety preventing them from good oral health. Dentists now offer dumfries sedation dentistry as a way to allow you to stay relaxed while the dentist completes the necessary procedures. One of the sedation dentistry options include oral conscious dentistry; it is one of the most widely used. The side effects are minimal and reduce your oral sensitivity while keeping you comfortable.
- The Technique If you have never used sedation dentistry before, the whole experience may cause you as much concern as going to the dentist in the first place prior to knowing the details. The dentist can review the specific details with you, but the oral sedation experience is not complicated from start to finish. Oral sedation is non-invasive, so if you can swallow a pill, you can enjoy the benefits of a smoother dental appointment. No needles are necessary; you just take the prescribed medication an hour or so prior to the appointment. Once you arrive at the office, you will already feel calm and comfortable. You will not be asleep during your treatment so you will be able to respond to commands or gentle nudges. The medication affects your memory so you will not have a clear idea of what happened during your appointment.
- Side Effects When you are introducing any medication into your body, you need to be informed of possible side effects. Typically, the medications used for oral sedation do not have major risks and do not have long lasting effects on your body. Oral conscious sedation is one of the most common forms of dental sedation because it is rare for anyone to experience serious side effects. The most common ones are:
- Dry Mouth Often a short-lived side effect, people claim their mouths are sticky and/or dry following the treatment. Having your mouth open for the entire treatment can add to this sensation.
- Headache Nothing an over-the-counter medication can’t address, some people have mild headaches after using oral sedation. Other people’s headaches do not last long enough to warrant pain-reliver use.
- Drowsiness Oral sedation is considered to be a conscious sedation so you should be able to stay awake and responsive during your appointment. Prescribed medications like benzodiazepines may cause drowsiness and prevent you from being able to be an alert driver, so you should plan on having someone to take you to the appointment and home from the appointment.
- Fogginess Typically, the medications used for oral sedation leave the patient with a groggy sensation or an unclear memory of the appointment. Most people believe this fogginess to be a positive result of the medication and prefer it to adding to their fearful experiences in the past.
Overall, the side effects are considered minor and should have no long-lasting effect on you. But you will be left with a healthier mouth and a calmer experience at the dentist.