Oral Anxiolytics involve a pill-form sedation method offered to patients who have anxiety or low pain tolerance during dental appointments. It is usually taken an hour before the treatment, and its effects can last up to 24 hours after the procedure.
If you will have a dental procedure soon and wish to remain comfortable during the treatment, the Pine Desert Dental team has multiple sedation dentistry options available.
Oral Anxiolytics provide sedation in the form of a pill that helps reduce the pain and anxiety effects some patients may develop from dental treatments.
Different types of drugs are used for oral anxiolytics, and their usage will depend on your medical history and conditions. During your dental consultation, Dr. Sunitsch will explain your options and choose the one that best suits your needs.
With oral anxiolytics, you’ll remain awake during your procedure but will become less aware and probably won’t remember what happened until the effects have faded.
It is ideal for patients who undergo lengthy procedures and want to reduce the effects that could arise during the treatment.
Oral Anxiolytics are a safe and effective alternative for patients who want to reduce their anxiety and pain during dental appointments without being completely unconscious.
Most patients do not develop adverse effects due to oral anxiolytics when administered by a licensed dentist like Dr. Sunitsch. However, possible short-term risks could arise after the application of oral anxiolytics. These include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headaches
These adverse symptoms are rare, and if they do appear, therapies and sometimes medication is available to treat them.
Oral Anxiolytics are recommended to patients who:
- Experience dental anxiety
- Want to increase their tolerance during longer appointments
- Have special healthcare needs
- Have a gag reflex that could interfere with the treatment
If you feel like your treatment is a bit more invasive than what you are comfortable with and would like sedation to reduce your anxiety but don’t want to be completely unconscious, oral anxiolytics may be a good option for you.
During your consultation, Dr. Sunitsch will discuss the sedation treatments available. Once your medical history and conditions are reviewed, your dentist will recommend the best sedation option based on your needs. Also, our team may ask you to sign a consent form to use sedation during your treatment.
About an hour before your dental procedure, Dr. Sunitsch will administer the oral anxiolytic and wait for the effects to take effect. Once you feel comfortable, he’ll proceed to numb the areas that will be treated.
Once the treatment has been completed, the effects of oral anxiolytics may last for multiple hours. Before your treatment starts, you should ask a trusted friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment and be available to make sure you rest comfortably until the effect of the sedative fades.
There are some risk factors associated with any type of sedative medication. If you have any of the following conditions, talk to your dentist about them:
- Currently pregnant
- Respiratory illnesses
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- History of mental health conditions or substance abuse
- Allergies to medications
Pine Desert Dental offers sedation dentistry services, including oral anxiolytics. Dr. Zach Sunitsch and the Pine Desert Dental team can handle all your dental needs.
He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Pine Desert Dental offers comprehensive sedation dentistry for your dental procedures.
For more information, call us at (541) 549-0109 or request an appointment online. You can also visit us at our clinic in Sisters, Oregon.