---
title: "What Is Moderate sedation? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Moderate sedation is a level of sedation in which you feel sleepy and may not remember much, but you can still be awakened and respond."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/moderate-sedation
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Sedation and Anesthesia

# Moderate sedation

Moderate sedation is a level of sedation in which you feel sleepy and may not remember much, but you can still be awakened and respond.

The ADA describes moderate sedation as sleepy but awake. You may slur your words, and you may remember little afterward. You can still respond to touch or to the dentist's voice. It can be reached with pills or with medicine through a vein, as in [IV sedation](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/iv-sedation). It is deeper than [minimal sedation](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/minimal-sedation) and lighter than deep sedation. A provider needs added training, emergency equipment, and the permit the state requires. Staff should watch your breathing and heart rate through the visit, which is [sedation monitoring](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/sedation-monitoring). This entry explains the term in general. See oral conscious sedation.

## Related terms

-   [Minimal sedation](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/minimal-sedation)
-   [IV sedation](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/iv-sedation)
-   [Oral conscious sedation](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-conscious-sedation)
-   [Sedation monitoring](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/sedation-monitoring)
-   [General anesthesia](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/general-anesthesia)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Anesthesia and Sedation for Your Child](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/anesthesia-and-sedation-for-your-child)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)