What is IV Sedation?
IV Sedation during your dental visit
Many individuals, both children and adults, have or will experience apprehension and anxiety when it comes to dental care. It has caused people to avoid appointments, cleanings and further treatment because they have developed an unwarranted fear based on a previous experience or notion. Unfortunately, by pushing off dental treatment, patients are only hurting themselves, which leads them to more serious oral health issues and even more overall health consequences. As more and more of our dentists realized how prevalent these concerns were, newer options became available to ease the concern of patients and provide comfort and allowing our skilled professionals to provide the proper treatment and care efficiently. IV sedation is one of the alternatives and types of sedation dentistry which has become quite popular.
Many individuals, both children and adults, have or will experience apprehension and anxiety when it comes to dental care. It has caused people to avoid appointments, cleanings and further treatment because they have developed an unwarranted fear based on a previous experience or notion. Unfortunately, by pushing off dental treatment, patients are only hurting themselves, which leads them to more serious oral health issues and even more overall health consequences. As more and more of our dentists realized how prevalent these concerns were, newer options became available to ease the concern of patients and provide comfort and allowing our skilled professionals to provide the proper treatment and care efficiently. IV sedation is one of the alternatives and types of sedation dentistry which has become quite popular.
Rather than oral medications being used to keep patients relaxed throughout the duration of dental procedures, IV sedation involves administering a sedative through injection via a vein. This allows the mediation to work quickly and effectively. Due to the fact that it is given intravenously, our anesthesiologists are able to adjust to the right level of sedation needed for the treatment to keep risks extremely low and not administer more than is needed. Through this method and strategy, we are capable of tailoring the amount of sedation used to each specific patient, reducing the potential side effects. Most patients will still be semi-awake, allowing the ability to communicate with the dentist so we are always able to asses one’s comfort level.
IV sedation is often recommended by dentists for oral surgery procedures to make it easier to relax during stressful, long treatments, such as implant placements, wisdom tooth extractions, and other types of invasive dental treatments.
Since with traditional oral sedation dentistry, medications are used to help patients stay relaxed throughout dental procedures rather than an injectable, patients have options depending on a wide variety of factors. IV sedation can also help to prevent pain and to reduce the ability to remember the procedure when it’s completed. Many patients confuse IV sedation dentistry with general anesthesia, and the two have some big differences.
IV Sedation vs. General Anesthesia
The simplest understanding of IV sedation- also known as conscious sedation- is that a patient is still awake and aware during treatment. General anesthesia, the patient is unconscious, requiring additional support for breathing a potential, yet mild risk. During general anesthesia, a person is completely asleep and cannot experience any stimulation.
General anesthesia generally uses a combination of inhaled gasses and intravenous medications to make patients completely unconscious so they’re unable to respond or feel any pain during a medical procedure which is why an anesthesiologist must also be present to monitor all vital signs including pulse, blood pressure and heart rate throughout the time the patient is out during the performance of dental treatment. When general anesthesia is administered, it depresses the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which is why it’s not recommended for routine dental work.
IV sedation tends to be the recommended safer and more comfortable route because no additional medical assistance is necessary and the patient is able to respond to verbal command or light, physical tough.
Advantages of Dental IV Sedation
Many of the benefits of IV sedation dentistry include the following:
- Offers a higher level of sedation
- Works quickly: Since medications are injected, the medications begin to take action almost immediately. Oral sedatives can take minutes to an hour for the official effect to set in.
- Quick recovery times
- Works for severe anxiety
- Amnesia
- Diminishes the gag reflex
- Patients are still conscious
Who Is a Candidate For Dental IV Sedation?
Patients who have experienced:
- A high fear of the dentist
- Traumatic dental experiences
- Difficulty getting numb
- A bad gag reflex
- Very sensitive teeth
- Complex dental problems
- Limited time to complete dental care
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