What is oral sedation?

Oral sedation involves anti-anxiety medication, including Valium, Xanax, or Ativan. This medication decreases activity in your brain that controls fear and anxiety. It’s especially effective in keeping you calm and preventing nervousness or movement that may disrupt your dentist’s work.

While used heavily by less-trained dentists due to ease of use, pill sedation is not reliable on its own and does not result in full amnesia. Additionally, the results can vary from patient to patient, making it hard to predict the effects. Although it typically uses many of the same medications as IV sedation, the pills take much longer to absorb, so this method requires a long delay in cases where more medication is needed. Since oral sedation is less effective and more unpredictable, we prefer to use it only as a mild relaxer if needed.

You’ll experience a serene calming effect, feeling happy and relaxed. Oral sedation is often taken before and during your dental appointment. Afterward, you’ll need someone to drive you home.