How Long Does It Take to Recover from Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is good news for anyone who puts off dentist visits for as long as they can. With sedatives, the sights, sounds, and smells of a dentist’s office recede to the far corners of your mind. The medications let you sail through a dental procedure with zero anxiety. Dentists also get to perform procedures without anxious and disruptive behavior from fearful patients.

Any patient who needs sedatives for a dental procedure has to arrange for a ride home after treatment. Dentists base this recommendation on the amount of time it takes for the sedation to wear off. How long is that, you ask? Keep reading to find out.

Sedation dentistry: a short explainer

Different levels of sedation dentistry have different applications. The type of sedation a dentist recommends for their patient depends on factors like:

• The type of dental procedure a patient needs
• A patient’s overall health
• The anxiety level of an individual
• Whether or not the patient has a disability
• The age of the patient

Based on the considerations in the list above, dentists will choose one of the following levels of sedation for their patients. Each kind has its own set of effects and recovery time.

1. Laughing gas

Dentists deliver nitrous oxide or laughing gas through a face mask that covers the patient’s mouth and nose. Inhaling the gas pulls it into the lungs, and from there, it finds its way into the bloodstream. Nitrous oxide is safe for the organs and works well for kids, patients with anxiety, and patients with disabilities.

Laughing gas works in two or three minutes, creating numbness and a calm, upbeat mood that removes dental anxiety. The effects wear off minutes after the face mask comes off.

This means that the dentist will keep administering the gas at intervals. It also means that an adult can drive themselves home after a dental procedure involving laughing gas.

2. Oral sedation

With oral sedation dentistry, a qualified dentist will administer a sedative in pill form before a dental procedure. The drugs make the patient drowsy and disoriented, which eliminates anxiety. Better still, oral sedation suppresses a patient’s gag reflex and pain response. A dentist will make sure to choose a form of oral sedation that takes their patient’s systemic health into account.

The effects of oral sedation can take anywhere from two to eight hours to wear off, depending on the drug. Some drugs that dentists use for oral sedation cause amnesia as well. Patients who undergo this type of sedation dentistry will need a ride home.

3. IV sedation

IV sedation requires skill and certifications on the part of the dentist. A dental practice may have a dentist who is a certified anesthesiologist. The practice may also retain the services of an anesthetist. Oral surgeons come with the training and board certifications to administer IV sedation.

Patients prepare for IV sedation by fasting in the hours leading up to the injection of the sedative. Once the sedative enters the patient’s bloodstream, it causes a partial loss of consciousness. The effects wear off in 12 hours, and the patient can get back to their routine in 24 hours.

4. General anesthesia

Dentists often use IV sedation and general anesthesia for lengthy, intensive dental procedures. These procedures usually qualify as oral surgery.

General anesthesia causes a complete loss of consciousness. It takes an average of 45 minutes to regain consciousness, though it could take longer depending on additional medication that a dentist uses during the procedure. The full effects of a general anesthetic wear off in 12 to 24 hours. A dentist will advise their patient on how fast they can resume their daily routine.

We deliver a stress-free experience as we take care of your oral health

Our practice caters to the needs of our patients to ensure an anxiety-free experience. We have a fully qualified team that will administer the exact type of sedation dentistry that you need.

So whether you prefer to give dentists a wide berth or you need an intensive dental procedure, we have you covered. Get in touch with us to find out how we can deliver top-notch dental care.

Request an appointment here: https://totalcareimplantdentistry.com or call Total Care Implant Dentistry at (760) 394-3088 for an appointment in our Palm Desert office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Sedation Dentistry in Palm Desert, CA.