Smile SenseA guide to your smile!

The most common current method used for conscious sedation in dentistry, is use of certain oral medications, like, anti – anxiety or sedative hypnotic drug.

The most common group of drugs are Benzodiazepins, antihistamines and insomnia medications.

Following are some of the popular drugs ( generic name) used and where:

• Triazolam – 0.25 to 0.5 mg one hour before appointment. Rapid onset of action and anterograde amnesia.
• Midazolam – 7.5 – 15 mg one hour before appointment. Ideal for short appointments.
• Lorazepam – 2 – 4 mg one hour before appointment. Useful for appointments longer than 2 hours.
• Temazepam – 30 mg one hour before appointment.
• Flurazepam – 30 mg one hour before appointment.
• Diazepam – 10 mg one hour before appointment. Most commonly used drug.

Dosages can be titrated and various medications can be used as the dentist wishes based on his analysis of the patient and experience.

Side effects:

• Retrograde amnesia – Little or no memory is a sometime useful side effect specially for the patient.
• Dry mouth – nearly all the medications cause dry mouth. This is though useful for the dentist as it makes things easier for him as he doesn’t have to deal with the saliva.
• Less post operative soreness – With sedation, apprehension and hypersensitivity to pain is reduced, thus reducing the likelihood and severity of post operative soreness.

Drug interaction:

A detailed medical history and use of software to check for drug interaction virtually eliminates and harmful drug interaction.

Oral sedation dentistry is thus a very effective and safe way to reduce anxiety and make a patient comfortable during the dental procedure.