Understanding Sedation
Sedation involves the administration of a potent sedative that induces relaxation and calmness. The sedative is powerful enough to make you feel almost asleep during the procedure, rendering you unconcerned about your surroundings. Unlike general anesthesia, which renders you fully unconscious, with sedation, you can still communicate and respond to commands. This approach is safer, faster, and easier to administer. Once the procedure is complete, the administration of the drug is stopped, and you regain consciousness.
Concerns about Waking Up
The sedative drugs take effect quickly, almost instantaneously, and gradually wear off over approximately 30 minutes. As you become more awake, we can observe your progress, ensuring that you never abruptly wake up. If necessary, we can provide additional sedation to keep you comfortable. The benefit of this treatment is that you will have no recollection of the procedure, so it will feel as though you simply came in and then went home.
Choice of Medication and Administration
We utilize Midazolam, a short-acting Benzodiazepine from the same family as diazepam and valium, for sedation purposes. This drug is administered intravenously, typically through a vein in your arm.
Safety and Considerations
Benzodiazepines are widely used and have a long-established safety record. Adverse reactions are extremely rare, and your dentist will carefully assess any medical contraindications before prescribing the medication.
Additional Information
After the procedure, it is important to arrange for someone to accompany you and provide care. You may feel drowsy, and we recommend refraining from driving for 24 hours following the sedation. This also includes operating heavy machinery, making important financial decisions, or engaging in any activities deemed dangerous.
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