6 Things to Do After Dental Sedation

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Here are six tips to help you feel normal quickly after dental sedation.

Patients are often scared of sedation, despite how safe the practice is. One of the crucial reasons why is the strange feelings that people experience when they come off of the sedative, which might include nausea, confusion, and disorientation. Here are six tips for fighting these possible side effects and feeling normal as quickly as possible after sedation.

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Dr. Thoms and staff are Amazing!
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It’s always scary to put your child with disabilities under anesthesia. So it’s a relief to have such compassionate professionals to rely upon They are so sweet and kind to him it’s so nice to have people who genuinely care.
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The Dental Anesthesia Center (DAC) is awesome. When I started there 19 years ago my dental health had deteriorated and my fears were intense. Their expertise and compassion got me back on the right dental track. I still get nervous - but things are so much better now in terms of my dental and gum health.. Don't lose hope - try the DAC!

My appointment today was for a cleaning - and a standard check of gum health etc. Carrie - as always - did EXCELLENT work. She is very kind and thorough and knowledgeable .. and patiently answers all my questions. Carrie is positive and supportive with us patients ... and provides guidance on better at-home care for our teeth and gums.

My thanks also to the office staff who are very helpful with questions or concerns.
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We’re very thankful to have found the kind folks at the dental anesthesia center. They are patient and informative with what’s needed and how it will get done. Big shoutout to Rebekah and crew at the front desk who always help us figure out all the paperwork and scheduling. Thank you Dr. Behl for your awesome bedside manner! Highly recommend to others
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The entire team at The Dental Anesthesia Center is exceptional.

Not only is Dr. Hoffmann a 10/10 dentist, but he is very trustworthy and only recommends procedures when necessary.

The dental hygienists are uniformly wonderful. During cleanings, they are gentle but are still able to carry on a conversation as they work.

If i moved an hour away, I would still drive my family here for any dental needs.
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Have Somebody You Trust Take You Home

After dental sedation, you might experience some degree of confusion and disorientation. While this feeling will generally go away quickly, you will want somebody you know and trust to greet you after your appointment to ensure your comfort. For this reason, we recommend having friends or family take you to the dentist and back rather than utilizing rideshare services.

Find Your Activity Sweet Spot

There are two activity-related mistakes you can make after your appointment. The first is being too active. If you try to live your life exactly as you would any other day, you risk falling due to a lack of coordination. The other side of the coin is being too inactive. Moving around and getting your blood pumping will help make the sedative wear off and bring you back to normalcy.

Drink Water

Sedation often involves keeping you without water for the duration of your treatment. This practice results in you being incredibly thirsty when you leave the dentist. Additionally, water helps jumpstart your body and clear your head after your partial loss of unconsciousness. Your best bet after sedation is to drink a moderate amount of water right away, as long as you are not too nauseous.

Eat Manageable Foods

One of the most common symptoms of sedation is having an upset stomach for a short period. To avoid this outcome, you should avoid sweets, spicy foods, and anything that causes digestive problems. Instead, stick to stomach-friendly meals until you’re feeling right again.

Take Your Medicine

Whether or not you’ll have medication to take depends on your sedation strength and the treatment you receive. Light sedatives usually have no associated medicine, but heavy sedation followed by a procedure likely will. Regardless, if your dentist prescribes medication, take is as instructed.

Don’t Be Afraid to Call Your Dentist

Dentists know that sedation can be confusing for patients. As a result, they usually send you home with an informational sheet about best practices. Still, you might run into an issue you cannot figure out or concern you. Don’t hesitate to call your dentist for more information if this situation presents itself.

We hope learning about these techniques helps ease your fears about dental sedation. Generally, it is a safe practice despite a few manageable side effects. If you’re convinced this type of dentistry is right for you, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment and get the dental care you need.

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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.

Updated: September 4, 2024

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