Taking Anxiety Out Of Dentistry

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Oral Conscious Sedation Explained

Oral conscious sedation uses a sedative pill to help the patient achieve deep relaxation. If you choose to undergo oral conscious sedation, your weight, the length of your procedure, and your medical history will all be evaluated and used to determine the appropriate dosage for you. Patients ingest one pill prior to treatment, and Dr. Messer may administer additional sedatives if needed.

Although oral conscious sedation has often been promoted as a way to "sleep throughout treatment," patients are not actually asleep. They are deeply relaxed, but can still answer questions and respond to instructions from our staff. These drugs also encourage short-term memory loss, so patients remember little, if anything, about their treatment. Because the effects of the drug often last beyond treatment, patients will need assistance getting to and from our practice. Patients should also plan to spend the remainder of the day resting at home.

Are You A Good Candidate?

Most of our patients who are in good general health are good candidates for oral conscious sedation. It is commonly recommended for patients who:

• Require a lengthy or invasive treatment

• Suffer from dental phobia

• Have a particularly sensitive gag reflex

• Have medical conditions like arthritis that make sitting in an exam chair uncomfortable

During an examination, Dr. Messer will determine your candidacy for sedation dentistry. Your comfort is important to us, and we will work to determine the right accommodations to make your visit as pleasant as possible.

Benefits & Risks

Our sedation options have allowed many of our patients to receive the restorative and aesthetic treatments they need to achieve excellent oral health and a beautiful smile. Dr. Messer has undergone specialized training with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS) to safeguard our patients' health and safety. We carefully monitor heart rate and oxygen levels throughout treatment, and we always exercise a conservative approach to medicating our patients.