IV Dental Sedation: Increase Your Comfort During Dental Procedures

What's IV Sedation?

Most dental procedures involve some sedation, whether it's a local sedative that's administered before drilling or a deeper sedative that's administered before a complex procedure. IV sedation administers the sedative via an intravenous line that's inserted into a vein, and many of our patients have very successful IV sedation for dental anxiety. Unlike general anesthesia, you'll remain awake during the procedure, but you'll be drowsy and relaxed.

IV dental sedation has advantages over nitrous oxide or oral sedation, such as:

• It takes effect almost immediately since the medication enters the bloodstream through an IV
• Dentists can easily adjust the amount of medication delivered
• It has an almost 100 percent safety record
• It's more effective for those with severe dental anxiety or a gag reflex

In addition to easing the stress of the dental chair, it helps patients maintain better oral health and, therefore, better overall health. Research has shown that poor oral health can lead to decreased overall health as well as the onset of serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, and more.

Venous insertion lets the medication enter your bloodstream more quickly and can shorten the overall time needed for the dental procedure. Your body chemistry will affect how long it takes for dental IV sedation to take effect, but generally, it works quickly. Your IV sedation dentist can adjust the amount as needed. You'll be very relaxed and may be able to respond to simple instructions, but you'll probably remember very little or nothing about the procedure. A local anesthetic may be used to numb the treatment area to ensure that you feel no pain or discomfort.

Who Benefits From IV Sedation for Dental Procedures?

Many people can benefit from IV dental sedation, especially those who:

• Have a significant level of anxiety about dental procedures
• Cannot sit comfortably for extended periods
• Have a gag reflex
• Have delayed necessary dental treatments due to dental chair phobia
• Are having a complex, lengthy procedure
• Are having multiple procedures done simultaneously

Although most people are good candidates for sedation dentistry, some are not. Your dentist will review your medical history, all medications you're taking, including over-the-counter ones, and any medical conditions you may have, and then determine whether IV sedation is appropriate for you.

Preparing for Your Procedure

We'll provide personalized instructions before your appointment, including guidelines on eating, drinking, medications, and arranging transportation on the day of your procedure. You should have transportation to and from your appointment, as you won't be able to drive or operate machinery for the remainder of the day.

It's important that you follow your instructions carefully so that your procedure goes well. You must have transportation home since we cannot allow you to drive yourself after having an IV sedation procedure.

What's the Procedure for IV Dental Sedation?

Before we begin your dental procedure, we'll place the IV line and administer the sedative through it. We'll monitor your breathing, oxygen level, blood pressure, and heart rate throughout the procedure. We can adjust the level of sedation to ensure you have the safest and most effective procedure.

When your procedure is complete, you'll be moved to a recovery area until your surgical team determines that you're sufficiently recovered. We'll provide you with postoperative instructions, and it's important to follow them carefully. You can then leave with your designated driver, so be sure to have one available. You may feel lethargic and drowsy after the procedure, so rest at home and follow all your postoperative instructions.

Forget Dental Chair Anxiety

Dental chair phobia is real, and it's very common. It can also keep you from getting the dental treatments you need and lead to poor oral health. IV dental sedation can alleviate the fear or dread of the dentist's chair and enable you to maintain good oral health while protecting your nerves.

If you have dental phobias, call our Great Neck office and speak with our team about whether IV dental sedation is right for you, especially if you have an upcoming appointment or haven't seen a dentist in a while and need to make an appointment. Our compassionate and proficient team can help you navigate your dental experiences comfortably and help you maintain the best oral health possible. Call us today.

We look forward to speaking with you.