Oral sedation relates to the way in which the medication is consumed through the mouth. IHere in the UK it’s most commonly pill form and the medication that’s most prescribed is Diazepam.
The benefits of oral sedation
The main plus point is that it’s extremely easy to administer because you’re prescribed it in pill form. Diazepam works in a very similar way to the medicines used in IV sedation. It belongs to the same benzodiazepine family.
It can also be the most cost effective form of sedation because if you’re lucky enough to get it prescribed by a GP, you only have the prescription charge to pay.
Is oral sedation right for my level of dental anxiety?
Because of the limitations of how it can be safely administered through prescription, the level of diazepam typically prescribed is quite low, so it will mean that the active drug isn’t ever going to be that high.
And so the actual sedative effect is always going to be quite limited.
It’s great for reducing the impact of stress or anxiety in the dental chair, but it’s not going to go close to how the sedative effects of IV sedation.
How do I get oral sedation for dental treatment?
One of the primary ways to do it is with your GP. GPs here in the UK, strict guidelines about the provision and prescription of diazepam because it is a regulated drug.
And so the degree at which your GP will be supportive is varying depending on who you might see.
Our free guide contains advice on working with your dentist to assist in this process.
And it’s always best to consult a supportive dentist who has experience helping people with dental anxiety and what they would recommend for your level of anxiety.
How does oral sedation compare with the form of sedation?
When you take a medicine like diazepam, you’ll typically remember all of the appointment, although it will feel blurry at times.
It will greatly reduce your feelings of stress, but it is lighter and more slow-acting, so you’ll want to take the medicine before you arrive.
Whereas with nitrous oxide you can leave the appointment and drive home, with diazepam you will need a chaperone to assist you safely back home after treatment.
