Jan
The team at Westwood Dentistry completely understands that patients of all ages might have dental anxiety. The fear of visiting the dentist’s chair is real, and our sedation methods can help ease your mind. Stress-free dentistry is just an appointment away when you integrate oral conscious sedation into your next visit. Drs. Monica Anand and Anshuman Rawat are here to assist, making each visit to the office a positive experience! Let’s dive into oral conscious sedation and its many benefits for patients of all ages!
Oral conscious sedation, also known as oral sedation, is a method of administering medication to help our nervous patients relax and feel comfortable during various dental procedures. It involves taking prescription medication in the form of a pill before the appointment. The medication, along with Nitrous Oxide administration (also known as Laughing Gas), induces a state of deep relaxation without causing complete unconsciousness. Patients feel ‘happy’ and are able to follow instructions, although they don’t remember much.
Anyone who commonly experiences anxiety or fear when visiting the dentist will benefit from oral conscious sedation. It is especially helpful for our patients with dental phobia, sensitive gag reflexes, difficulty sitting still for extended periods, and those undergoing complex or lengthy procedures.
Absolutely! When administered by trained and experienced dentists like Drs. Anand and Rawat, oral conscious sedation is completely safe. Our team follows the highest safety protocols and closely monitors our patients throughout the procedure. To make the procedure even safer, we provide Minimal Oral Sedation which avoids complex concoction of medications which can induce deeper states of sedation but can cause more complications.
The duration of oral conscious sedation depends on the type and amount of medication administered and the individual’s metabolism. Typically, most of our patients feel drowsy for several hours after taking the medication and will require someone to drive them to and from their appointment and stay with them until the medication has worn off. We don’t recommend driving or operating heavy machinery for about 24 hours.
While rare, some individuals might experience mild side effects such as temporary dizziness, dry mouth, or headaches. These typically subside within a few hours after the procedure and are not particularly bothersome for our patients. You can talk to Drs. Monica Anand and Anshuman Rawat, please let us know if you have any concerns so we can clarify your expectations before you undergo your dental treatments.
Westwood, Massachusetts, patients interested in deciding if oral conscious sedation can improve their dental office experience are encouraged to call our clinic to request a consultation visit and initial evaluation with our dedicated team. We are located at 327 Washington Street in Westwood and can be reached by dialing (781) 514-6443.