Oral Conscious Sedation recommended at first visit to new practice

[jim lg]

I'm a ...reluctant dental patient. I went to a new practice featuring spa amenities to make it more comfortable for me. When I made the appointment I told them I'd prefer to do the cleaning at a 2nd visit because I don't like long appointments. They did x-rays and photos of my teeth, that went well enough since they gave me a mask for my eyes to relax. After the exam the dentist listed a bunch of things I needed done, which included two crowns and replacing four filings, and the cleaning, of course. She said she'd mark the files to note what the biggest priorities were.

When I went to the front desk, the treatment coordinator said she's spoken to the dentist and that they recommended oral conscious sedation in order to get everything done at once instead of multiple visits. Is this commonplace that a dentist would recommend this without telling the patient in person before hand? It seems like a big hassle to me, take the meds before, getting leaving the house, getting someone to take you there, three or four hours in the chair and having someone take you home and you're out of it for the rest of the day.

On the one hand I can see how they might recommended it for so save multiple appointments, on the other hand, I wonder if they want to get everything done at once for the several thousand bill up front? Am I too cynical?

 

[geos]

Your dentist would normally need informed consent. I’m not sure how you can give this without having a discussion on the subject with them before. Did your dentist cover the benefits and risks of sedation?

 

[Gordon]

It seems an awfully large treatment plan to do at one visit, especially using just oral sedation, the effects will be wearing off a fair while before they're finished.

 

[jim lg]

@Gordon they estimated there was at least three hours of work to be done

 

[jim lg]

@geos to an extent the treatment coordinator explained all the things I must do before and after, but not the risks