Most people are unaware that there are different levels of dental sedation that can potentially have a big impact on their dental procedures. It is important to be aware of these to ensure that you are using the right level of dental sedation that is appropriate for the dental treatment that you need.
One common level of dental sedation is the moderate level, which is popularly described as “conscious sedation.” This is because although patients are given special drugs to relieve pain related to the procedure, it is not strong enough to cause them to become unconscious. Patients maintain awareness of their surroundings, although they may find it hard to remember things afterwards.
Moderate sedation is described as a drug-induced depression of consciousness, where patients can perform normal body functions with little or no alteration. Examples of such include proper and purposeful response to verbal commands, which can also be accompanied by stimulation of light. Protective reflexes are also unchanged.
Moderate dental sedation is typically used for patients that have a high level of anxiety, or whose dental conditions require slightly more than average work or procedures. If you choose this type of sedation, you will find yourself in a state wherein you remain awake and conscious, but are also relaxed and perhaps even sleepy.
This level of sedation can also temporarily affect your short-term memory, wherein you will have little or no recollection of the events during the sedation episode. This is the type of sedation commonly used in popular videos of children who are heavily affected by the drug.
If your dentist is offering to use a moderate level of dental sedation for your procedure, make sure that he or she has the proper knowledge and certification to carry out such activities. Moderate sedation requires additional training and licensing compared to light sedation. You should also take note of the drugs and techniques used in employing moderate sedation, should there be any complications in the future.
You have the option of choosing from various ways to apply moderate sedation. It can be through inhalation, oral, or by injecting the drug into your veins (intravenous). The most common of these procedures is the intravenous sedation which requires various protocols prior to the event. The application methods have no considerable effects on the effectiveness of the sedation drug.
Since this is a drug-induced sedation, it is important to let your dentist know the history of all medications and drugs that you are taking in order to determine whether the drug used will have any synergistic impact with other drugs in your body. You should also inform them of any drug allergies you may have.
Moderate sedation is best when advised by your dental professional. As long as you ensure that your dentist has the proper certifications, and inform him or her of your medical and drug history, you will find moderate dental sedation right for you.