Sedation Dentistry in Riverside

Conscious Sedation

Conscious Sedation is defined as a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains the patient’s ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation and verbal command and that is produced by pharmacological or nonpharmacologic method or combination thereof.

Sedation Dentistry, sometimes called Relaxation Dentistry, refers to the way dentist’s manage Pain and Anxiety during dental appointments.

Unlike General Anesthesia where a patient is completely unconscious, asleep, and unable to respond, patients under Conscious Sedation, are able to respond to commands and breath on their own.

There are actually 14 different ways that sedation drugs can be administered. There are 2 primary ways that Sedation is administered:

• IV Sedation also known as Deep Conscious Sedation is usually used by anesthesiologist and dentists with specialized training and special certification. With this type of sedation, medications are administered directly into the blood stream. The greatest advantage of IV Sedation is that if someone is not sedated enough, the doctor can administer more medication and the effects are instantaneous. IV Sedation is not used commonly in most dental offices because of the specialized advanced training required and the requirements for certification by the State Board of Dentistry. The drugs used for IV Sedation are more effective then the same drugs taken orally. There is a more profound amnesia associated with this technique.
  
  
• Enteral Conscious Sedation “Orally Administered Sedation”, sometimes called “Sedation Dentistry” is administered by taking a pill. All body functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on their own. The patient will often fall asleep. Some degree of amnesia is common. The disadvantage with this method of sedation, is that the level of sedation for each person is not predictable.
  
  

The 2 most common types of Sedation (Sedation Dentistry) used by General and Restorative Dentists who utilize sedation are:

• Oral Conscious Sedation
  
• Inhalation Sedation

With Oral (Enteral) Conscious Sedation and Inhalation Conscious Sedation, the patient will experience a state of very deep relaxation. You can still speak and respond to the requests of others. Since IV Sedation requires specialized training and certification it is not used in most general practices, for that reason I will not provide information related to that method of sedation.

Oral Sedation

This Oral Medication used for Oral Conscious Sedation in dentistry are from a group of drugs known as Benzodiazapines. Not only do these medications have a sedative effect they also have some degree of amnesic effect for most people. Patients remember little or nothing about their dental appointment.


Advantages of Dental Oral Sedation

• Easy to administer: Swallow a small pill
• It is safe and easy to monitor
• Works well for most people
• Low Cost