Oral Sedation Temple Hills, MD

MINT dentistry is proud to offer patients a one-of-a-kind dental experience, including solutions to help you feel more comfortable so that you can achieve a gorgeous smile without unnecessary anxiety. Our board-certified team of dental professionals recommends oral-conscious sedation for longer procedures and biannual cleanings to ensure your appointment is less stressful. Oral-conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed anti-anxiety medication prior to your procedure. This method keeps you awake and able to respond to instructions but still allows you to feel incredibly relaxed. To get more information on this sedation dentistry method, including whether you are a candidate, contact our practice in Temple Hills, MD to schedule a consultation.

Oral-conscious sedation may benefit adults and children who suffer from mild to moderate anxiety when it comes to dentists or dental procedures. Before you are prescribed an oral-conscious medication, our Temple Hills, MD MINT dentistry team will need to complete a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate. Your dentist will go over your current medication, medical history, and any other issues to make sure you can safely take an anti-anxiety medication and decide which type is appropriate. Oral-conscious sedation may not be a good option if you have breathing or heart problems, you are or might be pregnant, or you have had a reaction to benzodiazepines in the past.

Your doctor will choose the type of medication they feel will be appropriate for your oral-conscious sedation. The type that is recommended by MINT dentistry will depend on your anxiety level, your overall health, what procedure is being performed, and how long your appointment will last. Your medication will be prescribed during your consultation so you can get it filled before your appointment. Since you will need to take it before arriving, you will need to have someone bring you to our office. If you are under light oral-conscious sedation, you will feel relaxed but alert. With moderate sedation, you will also stay conscious, but you may feel like you were asleep because of short-term memory loss. You might fall into a light sleep, but you should wake up easily. We will go to great lengths to make sure you are safe and comfortable during your procedure.

Your recovery from oral-conscious sedation and the side effects you experience may vary based on the medication and dosage your dentist prescribed. You will need to have someone drive you home from our office and watch you for at least 2 – 4 hours while the medication wears off. A MINT dentistry team member or doctor will warn you about the possible side effects of your oral-conscious sedation medication. Most commonly, patients experience temporary dizziness, headaches, vomiting, or nausea after oral-conscious sedation. Your risk of nausea and vomiting can be reduced by taking the medication after a light meal and then eating a snack about one hour after your procedure. If you are concerned about side effects after you have returned home, please contact MINT dentistry in Temple Hills, MD for assistance.

If you have dental insurance coverage, a member of the MINT dentistry team will talk to your provider to figure out how oral-conscious sedation fits into your plan. From there, we can better calculate your out-of-pocket costs. For patients who do not have insurance, your team will go over methods of payment are accepted by our office, including low-interest medical financing to make your sedation and treatment more affordable. If you do not have dental insurance or cannot afford dental treatments and procedures, ask a member of our Temple Hills, MD team about the MINT Discount Plan. We look forward to exceeding your expectations.

Thanks to oral-conscious sedation dentistry, anxiety no longer has to be a barrier to professional dental treatment and good oral health. Set up a consultation with a board-certified dentist to find out more information about oral-conscious sedation and other options that can help keep you comfortable during dental treatments. Our dentists will work with you to decide on your best options to make your visit to MINT dentistry in Temple Hills, MD even more enjoyable.