As a child and teenager, you couldn’t wait to gain your independence and be responsible for yourself. However, even as a grown-up, you’ll find you need assistance every now and then. When you have a tooth extraction, you will likely be told you must have a friend or family member drive you home. Why is this so common? Why would your oral surgeon recommend asking for help in this type of situation? Keep reading to learn why you might want to consider dental sedatives for this treatment and get a ride home instead of driving by yourself.
Why Do Patients Typically Get Sedation for Tooth Extractions?
A sedative is a medication that chemically keeps you calm, peaceful, and still so that you can undergo certain procedures without unnecessary stress or pain. Being sedated also allows the professional performing the treatment to focus on the accuracy and efficiency of the work without having to stop because of the patient’s anxiety or break requests.
When it comes to tooth extractions, most patients opt to be sedated because they feel some fear about the procedure. They often want to blur memories of the experience, worried that it may feel mentally traumatic to “be all there.” Although sedation is common for extractions, you will not be forced to take sedation to have a tooth removed, even if it requires minor surgery.
What Does Dental Sedation Do for You?
Unlike nitrous oxide sedation, which some general dentists can use even for simple cleanings, more powerful sedatives like IV sedation have a stronger effect than a mere light, calm feeling. IV drugs enter your bloodstream immediately and have an amnesiac effect on you within minutes. This state still enables you to respond to your dentist during the procedure and will not put you to sleep, but don’t be surprised if you don’t remember anything from your appointment. This state tends to last for a few hours after you leave until the drugs work their way through your system.
Can You Drive Yourself Home After a Tooth Extraction?
If you have received sedation for your tooth extraction, you are not permitted to drive home on your own. Your reaction time and senses have been dulled and delayed by the medication, making it unsafe for you to operate a potentially dangerous vehicle. However, even if you do not get sedation dentistry at all for your tooth extraction, your oral surgical team will strongly advise against driving. The local anesthetic will eventually fade away and leave a sore, potentially mildly painful sensation in your mouth. When feeling returns, you may be distracted with your discomfort and cause a traffic problem or an accident. In other words, you still should have someone else drop you at home after your tooth extraction—with or without sedation.
The last thing your oral surgeon wants to happen after you’ve already gone through a minor surgical procedure is get a preventable injury. Through simple planning with family or friends, you can get the treatment you need to help your smile without taking unnecessary risks. Accepting this life lesson tells you when you really have become an adult!
About the Practice
Rather than have patients drive long distances to oral surgery experts, Elite Oral Surgery Associates travels to various dental offices in the northeast to deliver advanced care. Dental implant placement, tooth extraction, and other procedures can more easily and comfortably performed in the patient’s already trusted dental office. In general, our team recommends IV sedation, especially for complex extractions because this medication can remove fear, keep the patient still and calm, and help with further pain relief. To learn more about sedation and oral surgeries with Dr. Harry Golnazarian, contact our team online or call one of our main host locations.
