Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation is a technique used to make patients comfortable during the treatment. It is a technique that uses sedative drugs to induce a state of relaxation.

Conscious sedation has replaced general anesthesia as a method of pain and anxiety control in general dental practices.

Normally in the dental surgery, long procedures such as multiple or complex restorations are done under local anaesthesia, but some patients are too nervous or otherwise non cooperative to tolerate this. In such cases, sedation techniques may be used to provide prolonged painless operating time on a relaxed patient.

Under conscious sedation, you will stay awake and aware, the doctor can speak with you, and you will be able to respond. You may receive medications into your vein (intravenously), by injection into a muscle (intramuscularly), or by mouth (orally).

As with any medication, the use of sedative anaesthetic agents can result in side effects. However, the side effects with sedation are very rare and include unintended loss of consciousness, drowsiness, dizziness, shivering, headaches, and post sedation nausea and vomiting.

Elimination of the sedative agents from your body can take up to 24 hours. It is important during this time to rest and recover from the procedure.

Due to the sedative effects of the medication you will need a responsible adult to accompany you home, preferably by car or taxi.