Oral conscious sedation is dentistry done different. It is a new concept to a lot of people and often there are a lot of questions. We try to answer most of them here, but if you have more, don’t hesitate to call us at 480-899-4402.

-Is it safe? Yes. Very much so. It is very safe with proper training and care in evaluating the medical condition of the patient. Because the patient is never fully unconscious, it is more safe than general anesthesia where life support devices may be required.

-Can I drive? No. You can’t drive the day of the appointment. Or handle heavy equipment, etc.

-Can anyone do sedation? We are selective in patients who we treat. People with extensive medical conditions may be at higher risk. If we feel there is a safety risk for the patient, we will refer the patient to treatment in a hospital setting.

-Is it different that just taking valium or laughing gas? Valium and laughing gas are low level sedatives. For deeper levels, multiple medications are used. Valium and laughing gas may be part of the protocol. Valium or laughing gas alone have no amnesia effect. The additional medications we administer do, which is very beneficial to the anxious patient.

-Are there any injections? Not for the sedation. By definition, oral conscious sedation means the medication is taken orally. Sometimes it is swallowed and sometimes it is absorbed under the tongue. We do however use normal anesthetic once you are sedated in order to numb the teeth we work on.

-Who would benefit from sedation? See our page titled Patients for Sedation Dentistry.

-What does oral conscious sedation cost? It varies on the time and level of sedation required. It is far less expensive than sedation requiring IV administrative or an anesthesiologist. For other cases, we only charge enough to cover the costs of the time and equipment costs. Typically this is between $200 and $500.

-Where did the pictures come from on this website? Dr. Rohwer took most of them here in Arizona on many of his trips. He’s not a professional photographer, but enjoys capturing the memories.

If you have further questions, contact us below: