Adult Sedation Instructions

Sedation will provide you a way of getting your dental work done while relaxed and comfortable. A few things for you to know:

1.   Your sedation will be achieved with the use of an oral sedative called Triazolam (trade name, Halcion).
2.   Triazolam was developed for temporary relief of insomnia. While the use of Triazolam for relaxation during dental treatment is an off-label use, it is widely used for this purpose and is the oral sedative of choice for dental anaethesiologists.
3.   Triazolam sedation is not general anesthesia, there are no IV’s or injections of sedatives
4.   You will not be “knocked out”
5.   Sedation allows you to be conscious and responsive
6.   You will be very sleepy and very relaxed
7.   You will be able to verbalize your needs and wants
8.   You will be monitored during your entire appointment and someone will be with you at all times
9.   The medicine we use has amnesiac effects– you may have little or no memory of the appointment.
10. You will be groggy for the rest of the day and into the evening.
11.  Do not eat anything within 4 hours of your scheduled appointment. Non-alcoholic drinks are ok. Any caffeine reduces the sedative effects.
12.  Fill the prescription at the pharmacy before your appointment. Bring the filled prescription to the dental office 90 minutes before your appointment and it will be dispensed by Dr. Younger. Triazolam takes approximately 90 minutes to be fully effective, during which time you will be relaxing in the reception area.
13.  You must have a responsible adult here to escort you from the waiting room of the dental office after the appointment and they will need to be with you for the remainder of the day.
14.  If you have any questions or concerns before your appointment please call our office at 905-845-5566.

Sedation After-Care Instructions

In general, the postoperative instructions after an oral conscious sedation procedure include the following:

1.   Have a companion to drive you home after the oral sedation appointment and rest for the remainder of the day.
2.   Have an adult to stay with you for the next 18 hours until the effects of the oral sedation have worn off.
3.   Don’t perform any hazardous activities. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 18 hours.
4.   Do not take over responsible tasks or take important decisions for at least 18 hours until you are fully mentally alert.
5.   Do not eat a heavy meal immediately after oral sedation. If you’re hungry, have only a light meal.
6.   If you experience nausea, lie down for a while. If the symptoms are intense contact your dentist.
7.   Do not drink alcohol for 18 hours following the administration of oral conscious sedation.
8.   Take any medication prescribed by the dentist. Do not take any other medications for the rest of the day unless they have been discussed and approved by your sedation dentist.
9.   If you have any unusual symptoms or feel discomfort, call your dentist. If unable to contact your sedation dentist, call the closest hospital emergency room.

Each patient may respond differently to oral sedation. Therefore, each patient’s recovery time is different based on the individual’s unique response to the sedative medication. For some patients it may take more than 18 hours for the effects of oral sedation to be fully worn off.