Wisdom Teeth Removal: 3 Different Types Of Oral Sedatives

Dentist Articles

Did you know that approximately 85% of all Americans need to get their wisdom teeth removed? The ideal ages for removing your wisdom teeth will be when you are between 17 and 25 years old since the roots of the wisdom teeth have yet to fully develop and the bones at the jawbone have not completely hardened yet. At these ages, complications related to wisdom teeth removal will be greatly reduced. The your wisdom teeth removal will be painful, and you should be under either a local or general anesthetic. Patients who do not wish to be completely unconscious should consider oral sedatives. There are various different types, and learning about the different options available can help you make a more informed decision.

Taking a Look at Triazolam, Otherwise Known as Halcion

Triazolam, or Halicon, is provided to patients in a pill form 60 minutes before the wisdom teeth removal, so that the dentists will have at least 60 to 90 minutes of working time and patients will have at least an hour to recover afterwards. Although effective with a 98.4% success rate, 10% of all patients would require a second dosage, that is half of the first dosage, to be administered 30 minutes later for the oral sedatives to have an effect, and another 20% of patients would require the Triazolam to be coupled with a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture. 

Triazolam is considered as a benzodiazepine drug, and is absorbed in the stomach and metabolized by the liver. This drug is responsible for enhancing the function of the GABA neurotransmitters, a major inhibitory transmitter that works to slow or calm you down. Triazolam is a short-acting drug, and not suitable for patients who are prone to early awakenings. Patients should expect side effects like dizziness, coordination problems, a feeling of lightness, euphoria, fatigue, confusion, depression, and even constipation, taste alteration, diarrhea, dry mouth, dermatitis, insomnia and parasthesia. 

Learning More About Vistaril, or Hydroxyzine

Patients who are not as responsible to Triazolam may want to consider taking Vistaril instead. When used as a sedative, Vistaril is typically prescribed approximately 15 to 30 minutes before the wisdom teeth are to be extracted. Vistaril is suitable for both adults and children although the dosages will differ. In adults, 50 to 100mg will be prescribed. On the other hand, 0.6mg/kg of Vistaril is prescribed for children. Vistaril can also be prescribed to relieve long-term anxiety.

Vistaril, also known as hydroxyzine, is known as a first-generation antihistamine from the biphenylmethane and piperazine class. The FDA first approved the usage of hydroxyzine in 1956. Vistaril will bind to the histamine receptors on the cells and cause an inhibitory response that prevents the cells from responding to any histamine that may also bind to the receptors. Side effects that are commonly associated with Vistaril include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth and headaches. In severe cases, patients may experience difficulty breathing, hives, swelling, tremors, seizures and confusion.

Understanding Dosage and Basics of Sonata, or Zaleplon

Last but not least, your dentists may recommend that you take Sonata, otherwise known as zaleplon. After administration, Sonata will take effect approximately 15 to 30 minutes later, much like Vistaril; however, Sonata has a relatively shorter elimination half-life of approximately 1 hour in comparison to the other alternatives that have been listed. Most dentists will administer 10mg of Sonata for the wisdom teeth removal. Although just as effective, research has indicated that patients typically have a more comfortable experience when they use Triazolam or other alternatives instead of Sonata.

Sonata is a short acting, nonbenzodiapene γ-aminobutyric acid agonist hypnotic. It has no active metabolites, and functions by binding to various GABA sites throughout the cells leading to a more profound hypnotic state in patients. Sonata has been found to present less residual central nervous system effects, so patients should not concern themselves over severe side effects. The most common adverse side effects that are associated with Sonata will include drowsiness, dizziness and irritability. 

Conclusion

If you are getting your wisdom teeth removed, you should consider the different options that you have for oral sedatives. Depending on how many wisdom teeth will be removed at once, the amount of time that you will be under surgery, and your medical condition, different oral sedatives are more compatible and suitable for your situation.

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11 November 2014

All About Full and Partial Dentures

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