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Oral Conscious Sedation

Unfortunately, there are many “dental cripples” walking around. Traumatic visits to the dentist, sometimes occurring back in childhood, may prevent a patient from seeking regular dental care. Some patients, no matter what, can never seem to get numb enough for dental work to be performed comfortably. This often leads to the patient dealing with dental treatment on an emergency basis only, which can be costly, time consuming and usually serves to reinforce in the patient’s mind that dental work is painful and objectionable. Avoidance of regular dental care can not only be a financial burden but can contribute to overall health problems, as dental health is directly linked to overall general health. For patients who are too scared to have dental work done but are also concerned about being heavily sedated to complete their treatment, oral conscious sedation may be the answer for them.

You may be a candidate for oral sedation if you:

  • Have had a traumatic dental experience in your lifetime
  • Know someone else who has had a traumatic experience and now you are worried that you may experience the same
  • Have avoided the dentist for a long time and know that you need significant work done, but are worried about your tolerance for sitting through multiple and possibly long appointments
  • Have been in pain for a while, and fear what dental work may need to be done
  • Have a sensitive gag reflex
  • Never feel quite numb enough with local anesthetics
  • Have neck or back issues that make it impossible for you to sit comfortably in the dental chair for any period of time
  • Want to have your smile improved with porcelain veneers but are worried about sitting comfortably through the number and length of appointments that may require

Dr. Alfe received advanced training in oral conscious sedation through DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) and has been performing this since 2002. Using oral medications, Dr. Alfe is able to help her patients relax so that they can comfortably, safely and calmly receive the dental care they need. You will be in a “twilight” state that is not as deep as IV or general anesthesia, but you will be relaxed enough to complete your care. Many times the patient falls asleep during the visit. It is not uncommon for the patients to experience “retrograde amnesia” where they remember very little, if any, of the dental appointment.

Part of Dr. Alfe’s training included knowing how much medication to give her patient, how to control (titrate) that amount during the visit, and how to monitor the patient’s vital signs (blood pressure and oxygen level) throughout the visit so it’s safe and comfortable.
On your first visit, Dr. Alfe will review very detailed medical and dental history forms with you. On that visit, if you are comfortable enough, her team can take necessary xrays and complete your dental exam and treatment plan so that Dr. Alfe can then sit down with you and plan your care. Dr. Alfe will then review your pre-operative instructions in taking your medication and dispense a prescription for the one that is right for you. She often recommends that the patient take the first dose the night before to ensure a good night’s rest. Too many patients have told Dr. Alfe that they were “up all night” the night before an appointment because of their fear. This first dose allows you to rest and awake refreshed. Anyone who’s had a sleepless night knows that the next day they tend to feel more tense and unable to deal with stress well.

Often patients choose to perform multiple procedures per visit, as it cuts down on the number of visits they require, thereby lowering their time commitment and nervous anticipation each time they come in. It will be necessary for you to have a trusted friend or family member bring you to your appointment as well as pick you up after and stay with you for a few hours after the visit. Each patient reacts differently to the medication and it’s not unusual for the dosage to be lowered in subsequent visits as the patient’s fear and anxiety tends to decrease along the way.

Dr. Alfe believes that everyone’s dental care should be safe, comfortable and fit into their lifestyle. There are so many advances in dentistry that allow her to conservatively and efficiently restore your teeth and smile, sometimes in as little as 2-3 visits. If you think oral conscious sedation may be the magic pill you’ve been looking for, please call or email Chicago Smile Spa for more information or a free consultation to see if oral conscious sedation is an option for you. We also offer 0% financing for qualified patients. You may finally be ready to move forward with your dental treatment and are concerned with how to pay for it. We have answers for you.