When it comes to dental sedation, the amount of time it takes to recover depends on the type of sedation used. Intravenous sedation and general anesthesia take some time to wear off, so patients should plan to have a responsible adult accompany them home and expect to recover at home for at least 24 hours after the procedure. The full effects of IV sedation will wear off after 24 hours, and patients should stay away from heavy machinery for the same amount of time. Oral sedation may cause an amnesic effect and can take two to eight hours for the effects to wear off, depending on the medication.
Patients who undergo this type of dental sedation will need to be driven home. Dental sedation is ideal for patients who have to undergo lengthy procedures that require sitting for several hours at a time. It is also an option for those with anxiety or difficulty undergoing oral surgery and other dental procedures. The effects of sedation are usually short-term and are beneficial because they help improve comfort during dental procedures. This form of sedation works together with medications and sometimes with anesthesia to help patients feel relaxed. In oral sedation dentistry, a qualified dentist will administer a sedative in pill form before a dental procedure.
Conscious sedation is ideal for people who often feel panic and anxiety during complex dental procedures. If you've never been given sedation before, you might be curious how long the effects will last. Essentially, oral sedation will suppress the gag reflex, suppress pain responses, reduce anxiety, and more. When it comes to dental sedation in pill form, patients should take the medication the night before the scheduled procedure. Intravenous sedation will temporarily affect some of your cognitive abilities, so you may need to prepare better for this eventuality.
