Introducing Moderate Oral Sedation

Diagram showing three levels of sedation in dental procedures with cartoon teeth. The first tooth has minimal sedation with a wink and eye open. The second has moderate sedation with closed eyes and a speech bubble with Zs. The third has deep sedation with closed eyes, a droplet of saliva, and three Zs.

Moderate Oral Sedation is a sedation technique that is a drug-induced state of relaxation where the patient is still awake, responsive to verbal & physical communication, and can breath on their own.

A woman lying in a dental chair with her eyes closed, receiving oxygen and nitrous oxide sedation for her dental appointment.

KEY FACTS ABOUT ORAL SEDATION:

Airway and breathing: Patients can breathe on their own and do not require assistance to maintain an airway. 

Patient state: Patients remain conscious and responsive to verbal commands or light touch, but are in a deeply relaxed state. 

Memory of procedure: Patients often have limited or no memory of the procedure afterwards. 

Medication: A sedative pill is taken orally, usually about an hour before the procedure starts. 

Recovery: Full recovery can take up to 24 hours, so patients need someone to drive them home and should follow their dentist's instructions for the rest of the day. 

Benefits: It is a great option for those with dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or who need extensive dental work. It can also increase the pain-threshold for patients.

If you’re interested in Oral Sedation please contact us and speak to our staff for more details.