How Does Conscious Sedation Really Work?
- By Mary Marks
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- 06 Jan, 2023
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Conscious sedation Clarkson Dental offers is a very different procedure from general anesthesia. Applied before the intervention, it helps you to be very relaxed, detached from everything that happens during the dental treatment, and, at the same time, to remain fully awake and aware.
Conscious sedation can be achieved with the help of drugs (administered orally or intravenously) or nitrous oxide, known as the “laughing gas.”
Oral sedation
This procedure involves taking some pills before the moment of the treatment, prescribed by the dentist, that will relax the nervous system. The patient will not have fear and anxiety, so the treatment will be performed more easily and quickly.
Conscious sedation with nitrous oxide
This sedation type is based on the inhalation of a mixture of air, oxygen and nitrous oxide, which is administered by the dentist, through a mask, in a personalized dose. Its effect begins immediately after the first inhalation, and the patient relaxes while remaining conscious, vigilant, and communicative. Nitrous oxide is not dangerous at all, and its effect disappears as soon as the gas administration is interrupted.
All types of conscious sedation are safe. They do not negatively affect the health of the patients and are used in most dental clinics.





Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.




