Oral Sedation

We understand that not everyone is keen on getting certain types of dental treatments done. Dental anxiety is a very common feeling among many patients of all ages. It’s completely normal to feel anxiety over more invasive procedures, but here Voyles Family Dental we will do all we can to ease your nerves. A common option we provide our patients to ease anxiety and provide a comfortable and pain free experience is oral sedation. This is different than IV sedation, which is often more expensive. Oral sedation can be offered for almost any dental procedure depending on your needs. Please don’t be afraid to inquire about oral sedation as an option if you feel it will make your experience more comfortable. Oral sedation involves administering a sedative to help reduce pain and anxiety during most procedures. It will leave the patient conscious but not as sensitive to the procedure being preformed. Oral sedation typically involves taking medications orally as opposed to IV sedation, which is often more expensive and can often have more adverse side effects. The most common types of oral sedation used is benzodiazepines, which are generally considered safe to use and have a low risk of reacting with other medications you may be on. There have been over 4 decades of research into benzodiazepines to ensure their safety. Even though the risk of oral sedation is relatively low, every person has different reactions to medications. Therefore, it is important to inform your dentist of any mediations you may be on or any important health conditions you may have. Dr. Voyles will likely ask you various questions to ensure your safety before the oral sedative is given.

If you elect to use oral sedation while visiting our office, it’s important to have someone accompany you so that they can drive you home after your appointment is finished. After the procedure you may feel a bit weak and tired, which is why it is advised to avoid driving and also to take a half-day or a whole day off work following your procedure. It is also advised to drink plenty of fluids post procedure. This will help the sedative wear off faster when you arrive home.