Oral Sedation Dentistry in Raleigh & Wake Forest, NC

Oral conscious sedation uses a prescription medication you take before treatment, at the time your dentist instructs. You may become drowsy or doze off; your response depends on the medication and dose.

Because there is no IV involved, oral sedation is a good fit for patients who feel anxious about needles but still want more than laughing gas. Many patients remember little of the appointment afterward.

Your health, planned treatment and previous experiences help determine whether oral sedation is appropriate. Oral and IV describe how medication is given; neither route alone determines the depth of sedation.

Ask when and where to take the prescribed medication, and whether your companion should bring you to the office before the first dose. Confirm eating and drinking instructions and what to do with your usual medicines. Do not use someone else's sedative or take extra medication because you still feel anxious.

Discuss how discomfort will be controlled during treatment. Avoiding an IV does not mean avoiding all injections: local anesthesia may still be needed to numb the area being treated.

Arrange time to recover

Have your responsible adult hear the discharge instructions with you. Confirm how long to avoid driving, work and other activities, and how long someone should stay with you. Recovery from sedation and recovery from the dental procedure may follow different timelines.

Understand your estimate

Ask whether sedation is listed separately from the dental treatment and which follow-up visits are included. Request an estimate of your expected insurance contribution and personal cost before making a decision.

Use our sedation preparation checklist and new patient guide to organize questions for your visit. For independent background, read Cleveland Clinic's sedation dentistry overview.