Oral Conscious Sedation
What is Oral Conscious Sedation?
Oral Conscious Sedation (OCS) consists of using specific drugs that cause drowsiness, confusion, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis, and retro-grade amnesia (forgetting the experience/making the memory blurry). These medications allow for some dental treatment to be completed but can be very unpredictable.
Why Would My Child Benefit From Conscious Sedation?
As the name implies, the patient is conscious and awake, so they may still feel discomfort associated with dental treatment. The medicine inhibits their ability to resist due to the effects already mentioned, but the drowsiness, confusion, relaxation, and forgetfulness can help them perceive the procedure more positively. There are instances that even with OCS, the patient may have a negative experience, in which case, choosing IV sedation may be the right approach.
Who Is A Candidate For Oral Conscious Sedation?
Any patient that may not do well with nitrous AND needs a short treatment appointment can be a good candidate for oral conscious sedation. These drugs are fast-acting, meaning that they only work for a noticeably short period of time (usually 25-30 minutes). That is why this form of sedation is best used for small/short treatments or in case of emergencies on uncooperative children.
What Happens During Oral Conscious Sedation?
During OCS, the patient will be given a medicine to drink. The medicine will take approximately 10-15 to take effect, at which point the procedure will promptly start. Once the treatment is completed, and the effects of the medicine are gone, the patient can be dismissed from the appointment.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Oral Conscious Sedation?
PROS – procedures are performed in the office, good for small/short treatments (1 or 2 fillings or extraction), fast recovery.
CONS – Unpredictable outcome. Patient may still have negative experience, even with intended drug effect.
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