Oral-Conscious Sedation in Chevy Chase, MD

Dental technology has advanced leaps and bounds in the last few years. However, fear and anxiety of dental procedures still keep many people from making appointments for even routine dental exams and cleanings. That’s why experienced dentist Dr. Despina Markogiannakis offers oral-conscious sedation to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed during your visit. An anti-anxiety pill can be prescribed and taken before your appointment so that you can be fully relaxed but able to follow instructions. If you would like to learn more about oral-conscious sedation for your dental treatments and services at Smiles of Chevy Chase, request a consultation today at our Chevy Chase, MD office.

In general, oral-conscious sedation can help both adults and children who have anxieties or fears about going to the dentist. Before you are prescribed a medication for oral-conscious sedation, Dr. Markogiannakis will need to complete a thorough consultation to determine if you are a good candidate. She will go over your medical history, current medications, and other factors to ensure you can safely take anti-anxiety medication and also to see which type would be best for your needs. Oral sedation may not be a good option if you have heart or respiratory problems, are pregnant, or have had a reaction to benzodiazepines in the past.

There are several types of oral-conscious sedation medications that can be prescribed. The type recommended by Dr. Marko will depend on you, your level of anxiety, your physical health, what procedure is being performed, and the estimated length of your appointment. Your oral-conscious sedation medication will be prescribed during your consultation so you can have it filled before your procedure. Since you will need to take it before arriving, you should arrange for a responsible adult take you to your appointment. With light oral-conscious sedation, you will remain relaxed but still be awake and alert. With moderate sedation, you will also stay conscious, but your memory will start to get a bit spotty. You may fall into a light sleep, but you should wake up easily.

Recovery will depend on the kind of medication administered during the procedure. Regardless, you will need someone to take you home and stay with you for at least 2 – 4 hours. You will not be able to drive a vehicle until the next day after you have slept off the medication. Dr. Marko will talk to you during your consultation about the possible side effects of the specific medication prescribed for you. Most commonly, patients experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting after taking oral-conscious sedation. The risk of nausea and vomiting can be reduced by having a light meal before taking the medication and eating a small snack about one hour after your procedure. Please contact our office if you have any lingering side effects or if you have concerns after your procedure.

If you have dental insurance, our office will contact your carrier to determine your benefits regarding oral-conscious sedation methods. From there, we can better estimate your out-of-pocket costs. If you don't have dental insurance, Dr. Marko can go over the payment methods accepted by our office, including medical financing, to make your sedation and treatment more affordable.

Stop avoiding the dentist because of fear or anxiety with oral-conscious sedation at Smiles of Chevy Chase. Schedule a consultation with Chevy Chase, MD dentist Dr. Markogiannakis to learn more about your sedation options. It will keep you comfortable and relaxed during a routine dental exam and cleaning or during a longer procedure. She will work with you to find your best options so your visit to Smiles of Chevy Chase is a pleasant experience.