Recovering from Oral Conscious Sedation

Sedation dentistry makes it easy for fearful patients to get the dental care they need. If you’re considering sedation for the first time, it’s important to know what goes on during your appointment and what recovery will be like.

Sedative medications utilized in sleep dentistry are safe and have been widely used for many years to help patients relax. You can expect the following during the recovery process for oral conscious dental treatment:

• Provide Your Dentist with Your Medial History before Treatment - Health conditions, such as diabetes, and habits like smoking can affect what sedative medications are chosen for you, the overall sedation effect, and ultimately your care instructions for the recovery process.  Be sure to disclose your medical history, as well as any medications you’re currently taking, so your dentist can provide you with accurate after-care tips.

• Bring a Friend –You’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Different sedative medications have different half-lives, so you may still be experiencing sedative effects after your dental appointment is over, making it unsafe for you to drive yourself home.

• Avoid Eating and Drinking for 6 Hours Beforehand – Some patients may experience nausea as the sedative effect wears away. Because of this, it’s important to avoid eating and drinking before your appointment, to prevent stomach upset. If you feel light-headed or dizzy after treatment, eating light foods can help prevent this feeling.

• Take the Rest of the Day off Work - You’ll need to take some time to relax and let the sedative effects taper away. During this time, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, reduce activity, and do not attempt to drive or operate other machinery. 

Oral conscious sedation uses milder sedatives that pose decreased risk of side effects and are non-habit forming.  Recovering from sedation is a comfortable process that only requires rest and relaxation for the day – and sometimes less, depending on the level of sedation and the length of your dental appointment. At Hillcrest Dental Group, we help anxious patients get comfortable dental care with oral conscious sedation. If you have questions for our Petaluma sedation dentists, please call our office for more information.