Oral sedation is a popular treatment option for many people because it does not require injection, so if you're afraid of “needles,” you needn't worry. In fact, once you're comfortable with oral sedatives, it may even be easier to have local anesthesia (numbing shots in the mouth) to further facilitate the ease of dental procedures.

Medications are given orally (by mouth). They are either placed and dissolved under the tongue, or they can just be swallowed whole.

Many dentists prefer the sublingual (under the tongue) route which works even more quickly. Taken this way they are absorbed into the bloodstream more rapidly.

It is critical to provide your dentist with a complete health history including:

Medical conditions for which you are being treated

Any and all medications prescribed by a doctor

Over-the-counter medications, remedies and vitamins (including aspirin)

Alternative or herbal supplements: Many people seek relief from depression and anxiety symptoms with natural remedies like St. John's Wort and Kava Kava. These may have a mild interaction with oral sedatives, so it's critical that you tell your dentist if you are taking them. The medications and dosages for your oral sedation treatment can be adjusted to compensate for any interactions.

Certain foods: Even something as seemingly insignificant as drinking grapefruit juice can have an effect on sedation. The enzymes in grapefruit interfere with the systems that metabolize (break down) certain oral sedation medications in your body, so you should not consume grapefruit 72 hours prior to or immediately after a sedation procedure.

Also be sure to tell your doctor about factors like smoking and alcohol consumption, since these can influence the effectiveness of sedation medications.