Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral Conscious Sedation puts you in a relaxed and comfortable state through the use of orally administered sedative drugs. You simply take a small pill before your appointment that relaxes you for the duration of the treatment.

What does it feel like?

This sedation technique causes you to feel calm and relaxed. You will be conscious and responsive, but will feel sleepy. An advantage of Oral Conscious Sedation is that it has amnesic effects that may cause you to feel that the treatment time passes very quickly. It's different for each person, but some patients report that a 2-hour appointment seems like it only took a few minutes.

How fast does it work?

Dr. Lim will ask you to take the prescribed sedative at home before you arrive at your scheduled appointment, so that it has time to take effect by the time your treatment begins. After the appointment, the effects can take several hours to wear off completely. Because of this, you will be required to have a trusted friend or family member escort you to and from the appointment.

How is it administered?

The sedative drug comes in a small, easy-to-swallow pill which you will take at home before your scheduled appointment.

Will I be unconscious?

No. You will be in a relaxed state, but will be conscious and able to respond to verbal instruction throughout the entire duration of the treatment.

Do I need someone with me?

Yes. Because you may need to take a pill before you leave home, someone must accompany you to and from the dentist’s office. You should not take a taxi. You may feel very refreshed upon completion of the treatment, but the effects of the sedation do take some time to completely wear off.

Can I go back to work the same day?

No. To be safe, we recommend that you rest safely for the rest of the day and refrain from physical activities that require coordination, such as driving, operating machinery, climbing stairs or exercising.

- Krystle Lim DDS, Santa Rosa