About Intravenous Dental Sedation
Many people experience anxiety about undergoing dental work or even visiting the dentist at all, a fear known as dental phobia. Intravenous or IV sedation can provide patients with relief from dental phobia.
Dental anxiety is a common type of phobia that affects people of all ages. It may make a person terrified of undergoing dental treatment or of getting a mere checkup. Many people actually avoid going to the dentist because of this fear, and, as a result, compromise their dental health. Fortunately, there are several different sedation techniques available to help keep patients calm and relaxed during dental visits. IV sedation safely allows patients to feel sleepy but still aware during treatment, allowing them to be worry-free while receiving the care they need.
Benefits Of Intravenous Dental Sedation
Intravenous sedation is a form of moderate sedation that helps establish a relaxed, calm state and allows patients to undergo even the most complex dental procedures free of anxiety. While patients are still technically awake with IV sedation, they have feelings of extreme sleepiness and do not remember their procedures at all upon waking. IV sedation is safe and effective for most patients, and is most often used for shorter dental procedures because it produces almost instantaneous results. If a deeper level of sedation is needed, additional medication can be administered.
Intravenous Dental Sedation Procedure
Before the dental procedure, sedative medication is injected directly into the bloodstream through the arm, helping a patient to fall asleep during treatment. Upon waking, a patient will often feel as though the treatment lasted only a few minutes, even though it may have been much longer. IV sedation is not a painkiller and only treats anxiety, so a local anesthetic will also be applied to the gums to help reduce discomfort from the procedure.
Recovery From Intravenous Dental Sedation
A patient will need to be driven home after receiving IV sedation, and should avoid driving for the rest of the day. Mild nausea may be a problem post-sedation, but usually passes quickly. Before taking any medication after receiving IV sedation, the treating dentist should be consulted.