Do you feel tense and anxious at the dentist? If so, you’re not alone. Many people experience anxiety while receiving dental work. The good news is sedation can help. With sedation, you can feel more relaxed at the dentist and undergo procedures you need but may have avoided in the past. It will make you feel at ease and get rid of any anxious feelings. When we recommend oral sedation or IV sedation to a patient here at Tryon Family Dentistry, they often wonder how long it will last. Keep reading to find out.
What Happens After Sedation?
If your procedure involves sedation, you can expect to be a bit loopy right after it. Fortunately, the anesthesia will likely wear off within a half hour. Once it does, you may feel a bit lightheaded for a few hours, depending on the amount of sedation used and the complexity of your procedure.
After 24 hours, you’ll likely be able to return to work and your daily responsibilities. If you’re a younger, healthy individual, you may find that you’re back to normal even sooner. Older patients with health problems usually take longer to recover.
What to Do After Sedation
There are several recommendations we will make after you undergo a procedure with sedation. First and foremost, you’ll need to find a spouse, family member, or friend to take you home once you’re done as operating a vehicle or heavy machinery immediately can be risky. This holds true, regardless of the type of sedation you received. Our Midlothian, VA dentist friends at River Run Dental Spa always encourage patients to plan ahead when it comes to sedation.
When it comes to cooking and meal preparation, you must be very careful. It’s a good idea to order takeout or have a loved one take care of your meals. This way you won’t burn yourself accidentally because you were too groggy to cook safely.
We’ll also ask that you avoid rigorous physical activity for at least 24 hours and wait for the full effects of the sedation to wear off. So if you like to workout, we suggest you stay away from the gym for a bit. Light stretching is fine.
In addition, make sure a trustworthy friend or family member knows about your procedure and is available to help you for a few hours while you’re still drowsy. Lastly, refrain from alcohol, smoking, and other drugs. Adding these things to your body before you are fully healed can do more harm than good. If you’re taking prescription medications, we’ll let you know what you should do in advance.
You probably won’t want to go anywhere after you receive sedation. Try to free up your schedule for at least 24 hours so you can relax with a cozy blanket and a good book or television show. The less stress you put on your body after your procedure, the faster you’ll heal and be back to normal.
Schedule an Appointment at Tryon Family Dentistry
If you have questions about sedation at Tryon Family Dentistry, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at our office. Call us at 919-249-6799 today! Our dental team can’t wait to meet you!
