| |
| Services -
Sedation Dentistry: Oral Sedation |
| |
| Valium |
| |
| In our office, we used
diazepam (Valium®) and meperidine (Demerol®) for
many years, which are excellent medications for
lowering the level of anxiety, for giving a feeling
of euphoria that seems to be needed in erasing some
of the prior negative conditioning, or, if
necessary, bringing about amnesia: forgetting the
entire appointment. Recently, oral triazolam (Halcion®)
has become very popular with sedation dentists. It
also has a high level of safety and wears off more
quickly than diazepam, and thus is more convenient
for patients. |
| |
| Sometimes, with very high
levels of anxiety, patients, in spite of very
adequate levels of sedative, still cannot seem to
endure the dental treatment. However, after the
appointment, they may not be able to remember the
appointment. The treatment then is successful in
their mind and this successful experience works for
their benefit by reducing their anxiety in
subsequent appointments. |
| |
| Often, patients with
memories of traumatic dental care, after a few
appointments with sedation, are able to move away
from the sedation. With a few successful dental
appointments under their belt, the doctor can lower
the level of sedation so that they remember the
appointments with greater and greater clarity, until
they no longer need sedation. |
| |
| Oral sedation with the
proper medications has an excellent safety record.
Valium® by itself is extremely safe, even in large
doses. Hoffman-LaRoche, the manufacturer of Valium®,
has data on file showing patients who have taken up
to 2000 milligrams (that would be the equivalent of
two full bottles of 10 mg. tablets) in attempts to
commit suicide, and no rescue medications or other
rescue measures were needed, because vital functions
were not adversely affected. Triazolam is of the
same drug family, and is also extremely safe.
Nevertheless, as a precaution, most dentists using
triazolam or diazepam employ monitoring equipment. |
|
|
|
