Sedatives are agents to aid in relaxation. They work by reducing your anxiety level and are often given when basic relaxation techniques fail. Sedatives may be used in tandem with anesthetics and analgesics. These kinds of sedatives (such as nitrous oxide and tranquilizers) can be administered before, during or after dental procedures. Patients normally receive sedation orally by inhaling nitrous oxide or swallowing a tranquilizer.
Here are some basic kinds of sedation:
Conscious sedation is sense of
calmness while awake. Analgesics, anti-anxiety agents, and sedatives are
used in some combination in order to make the patient more comfortable and
relaxed, thereby making pain more manageable. Patients who have received this
kind of sedation typically feel as though they have been asleep throughout
their appointment. Patients who are faced with a greater degree of fear or
anxiety, or are experiencing root canals or tooth extractions
sometimes ask to be sedated for their treatment.
