Sedation dentistry refers to the use of oral or IV pharmacological agents to help patients before, during and after a dental appointment.  It works to depress the central nervous system and ultimately reduce conscious awareness so the patient can undergo treatment without fear or anxiety.  With oral sedation, patients typically maintain some level of consciousness but experience lower levels of anxiety.  With IV sedation there may be a lower level of consciousness, you may not remember much of the procedure.  Monitoring devices track breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during IV sedation to ensure the safety of the patient.  After treatment you must have a responsible adult take you home as you will not be able to drive for several hours after the procedure and you may experience difficulty with balance.