Conscious Sedation

Our goal is not only to provide superior dental care but to also help you feel comfortable and relaxed during your treatment. Drs. Eugene F. Morris and Armand A. Gama offer conscious sedation dentistry at their Missoula, MT, practice. You can receive stress-free treatment while remaining able to answer questions and respond to your dentist's direction. This option is safe and effective for patients who need dental surgeries but do not want to receive general anesthesia.

How does it work?

Conscious sedation combines a sedative to help you relax with anesthesia to help you feel no pain. This procedure is designed to ensure your comfort during treatment while allowing you to remain capable of effectively communicating with your dentist. Dr. Morris or Dr. Gama and a nurse will stay with you and closely monitor your vital signs for the entirety of the procedure, and you will be able to communicate any concerns. You may drift in and out of sleep, but should be able to respond to any verbal cues. As you wake from conscious sedation, you may feel drowsy and disoriented, but should not remember much if any about the procedure.

Types of Conscious Sedation

We offer three types of conscious sedation for oral surgery.

• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is considered a light form of sedation, which you will breathe through a mask. Laughing gas wears off quickly, has virtually no side effects, and will allow you to drive yourself home following treatment.

• Oral conscious sedation can be administered in the form of anti-anxiety medication and is considered a light to moderate form of sedation. The medicine can make you feel sleepy and relaxed, but you will still be able to respond to your dentist. Recovering from oral sedation will take longer than laughing gas, and you will need someone to drive you home. Side effects are rare but sometimes include nausea and vomiting.

• Intravenous (IV) methods take effect very quickly but can still allow patients to be conscious. This medication can also be continuously adjusted according to your needs for safe treatment. You will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment with IV sedation.

Our goal is not only to provide superior dental care, but also to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during treatment.

Candidacy

If you feel anxious about dental procedures, have extreme sensitivity to dental treatment, or find it difficult to sit for long periods of time, conscious sedation may be right for you. Many patients prefer conscious sedation because the effects subside faster than those of general anesthesia. However, if you require extensive treatment, deeper sedation may be the best solution. During a consultation, your dentist can determine what kind of sedation is right for you. Patients often choose conscious sedation when undergoing dental implant placement and wisdom tooth removal.

Only qualified professionals such as those at Oral Surgical Associates should administer any form of sedation. We will review your medical and dental history before approving the use of conscious sedation. You must make sure to inform us of any medications you are taking.