Dental anxiety is real, and if you’ve ever put off an appointment because of it, you’re not alone. At Hila Dental, we believe everyone deserves a calm, stress-free dental experience. That’s why Dr. Virginia Melmed, your trusted sedation dentist in Clearwater, offers oral conscious sedation to help you feel more at ease in the dental chair.
But how does oral sedation actually work? Are you asleep during the procedure? Can you drive home afterward? Let’s answer some of the most common questions we get at Hila Dental.
This is one of the most frequent questions we hear. The answer: No, you are not fully asleep. Oral conscious sedation helps you feel relaxed, drowsy, and calm, but you’ll remain awake and responsive throughout your treatment.
Patients often describe it as feeling like they’re in a dreamlike state. While you won’t be unconscious, you may not remember much of the procedure afterward, which many patients see as a major plus. You’ll still be able to respond to verbal cues and instructions from Dr. Melmed and the team, but your anxiety and sense of time will be significantly reduced.
Oral conscious sedation can be perfect if you have:
We can use dental sedation for a variety of procedures, too, from routine dental cleanings to more complex procedures like tooth extractions.
No, you will need a trusted adult to drive you home. Even though oral conscious sedation doesn’t put you fully to sleep, it can impair your coordination, judgment, and reflexes for several hours. For your safety, our sedation dentist in Clearwater strongly advises you do not drive, operate machinery, or return to work for the rest of the day.
Plan ahead by bringing someone with you to the appointment, and try to arrange a quiet, relaxing evening afterward to rest and fully recover.
The effects of oral sedation typically begin within 30 to 60 minutes of taking the medication and can last for 2 to 6 hours, depending on:
Some drowsiness may linger into the evening, which is why it’s best to rest and avoid demanding activities post-appointment. Most patients report sleeping well that night and waking up feeling refreshed the next day—with a completed dental procedure and no lingering anxiety!
If you’ve avoided the dentist because of fear, embarrassment, or past trauma, Dr. Virginia Melmed and the compassionate team at Hila Dental want to reassure you: you’re not alone, and we’re here to help. Our sedation dentistry services are personalized to your needs and designed to help you take care of your oral health without added stress.
Our patients often say that oral conscious sedation was the turning point in their dental journey, helping them complete long-overdue treatments, smile with confidence again, and even look forward to visits.
Whether you’re coming in for a cleaning or a more involved procedure, oral conscious sedation can transform your experience. If you’ve been searching for a sedation dentist in Clearwater, let Dr. Virginia Melmed at Hila Dental be your trusted partner in comfort and care. Get started today by booking a consultation to learn if oral conscious sedation is right for you.
