Pill Sedation in Tyler, TX: Is It the Right Option for You?
What makes you nervous about going to the dentist? Is it the sound of the drill and other equipment? Perhaps you had a traumatic experience in the past. Maybe you don’t really have a legitimate explanation, but you feel fear and anxiety at the sheer thought of going to the dentist. No matter the reason, sedation dentistry exists to help with these challenges. With modern dentistry options, pill sedation in Tyler, TX, might be an option for you to consider to help combat dental fear or anxiety.
How do you know if it’s the right option for your needs and struggles? In this guide, we will take a closer look at what pill sedation is, how it works, and who it might be best for. Once you have all the information, you can make a more informed decision. Let’s check it out.
What is Pill Sedation?
Pill sedation, also referred to as oral sedation, gives you a pill sedative, which you will take by mouth prior to your appointment. The pill is designed to ease anxiety and starts to be effective before you even come to the dentist’s office. You will take the pill as instructed, but it’s generally about one hour before your appointment to give it time to work.
There are different medications that might be used. Your provider will be able to offer further details here. Most commonly, these fall under the category of benzodiazepines, which includes options like Halcyon and Valium. The prescribed pill will be something known for calming and anti-anxiety effects. It’s not an ongoing prescription, just something used specifically for your appointment.
Pill sedation won’t put you to sleep and you remain conscious. However, it does tend to make you drowsy and highly relaxed, so you will need someone to drive you.
How Does Pill Sedation Work?
Pill sedation is a simple, non-invasive method that is highly effective. The only challenge is that there is no way to know exactly how the pill might affect a unique individual. That being said, it’s a common choice when someone struggles with mild to moderate dental anxiety.
You’re going to speak with your provider first. If you are an established client, they likely already know your medical history and can determine if this is appropriate. If you have never worked with them, they will probably require a consultation. Upon the determination, a prescription will be given and you will take that as instructed.
During your dental appointment, you will feel calm and drowsy. It’s likely you will feel detached from what is going on, and you might even fall asleep. Many people say they don’t remember much of the appointment. Don’t forget to bring a responsible driver to get you to and from the appointment, as the effects can linger for several hours.
Benefits of Pill Sedation
There are benefits of using this method of sedation. The benefits can vary depending on the patient. This is a general overview of the common benefits:
- Reduce Anxiety: this is the primary benefit that helps clients not delay or avoid dental care because they are anxious or afraid, so they can get the care they need.
- Diminish Pain Perception: pill sedation will not cover or kill pain, but it will dull your perception of pain in many cases because you are calm, relaxed, and drowsy.
- Easy to Administer: the pill is administered at the office before your appointment. There are no needles or specialized equipment needed. You just take the pill.
Is Pill Sedation in Tyler Right for You?
Only you and your provider can ultimately determine if this is right for you. It’s safe for the majority of healthy adults and helpful in many scenarios. These are some common times it may be right:
- Moderate dental anxiety
- Gag reflex challenges
- Multiple procedures to be done in a single setting
- A struggle with dental phobia or past trauma
- Challenges sitting still for any reason
That being said, not everyone is a great candidate for this solution. Professionals will not recommend pill sedation if you are on medications that may interact poorly, have certain health conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or suffer from sleep apnea.
It is your responsibility to be honest and fully disclose your medical history to your dentist.
Pill Sedation in Tyler, TX, with Smith Dental Care
At Smith Dental Care, we are proud to offer a variety of sedation options, including pill sedation. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable and relaxed so you can get the care you need and deserve. Let’s chat about your needs and determine if this solution is right for you.
Schedule your appointment today to get started.