“What sedation is used for a root canal?”

Root canals are a common dental procedure used to treat an infected tooth. During the procedure, a dentist needs to access the inner chamber of the tooth and remove any damaged or decayed tissue. To make this process more comfortable for the patient, sedation is often used.

The most common type of sedation used for root canals is conscious sedation, also known as minimal sedation. This type of sedation helps to relax the patient while keeping them awake and alert enough to respond to commands from the dentist. Conscious sedation is usually administered through an oral medication such as Valium or Halcion, but it can also be delivered through an IV or inhalant gas if necessary.

In some cases, a stronger form of sedation may be needed for a root canal procedure. In these instances, deep sedation or general anesthesia may be used depending on the severity of the case and the preferences of both patient and dentist.

https://ladentalexperts.com/sedation-dentistry-los-angeles/

Hello,
Typically for root canal treatment the dentist will administer a topical anesthetic first, and then a local anesthetic like lidocaine. This is delivered by injection. Once the tooth is numb the root canal treatment can be performed and completed in one visit most of the time.
Good luck!
~Dr. P

Root Canal treatment is routinely carried out with the use of profound local anesthetic (numbing). If an infection is present it’s usually best to reduce it before treatment using antibiotics. This helps the anesthetic work better. If anxiety prevents this approach then conscious sedation can be employed (either by pill or IV ) . Most patients find the procedure boring and uneventful and sleep and all confirm that the thought of it was by far worse than the actual treatment!

There are 4 levels of sedation. Just local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, a tranquilizing pill like Xanax of Halcion, and general anesthesia.