Oral conscious sedation

With oral sedation, a dentist or doctor prescribes a pill, usually taken before the visit. The ADA says sedation may involve gases that are inhaled, pills that are taken, or medicine that is injected. Ask what to expect, including whether you will need a ride home. It does not remove the need for a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. Rules for who may give this type of sedation, and the permits needed, are set by each state, so ask any office what training and permits it holds. Staff should check your health history and watch you during care, as in sedation monitoring. This entry explains the term in general. See minimal sedation and dental anxiety.