IV Sedation Dentistry for a Relaxing Dental Visit

Many people feel stressed or anxious about dental appointments, especially if they need a major oral surgery. If you are nervous about an upcoming dental treatment, then you should consider the benefits of IV sedation dentistry to help you relax while you are in the dental chair. At Oramax, we are proud to offer several different types of sedation for you to choose from.

Types of Sedation Dentistry

Each situation is unique, which is why we offer several types of sedation dentistry for you to consider. All of these options use medication to relax the patient during the dental procedure. Here are a few options that you might discuss with an oral surgeon:

• Medication to suppress awareness during the procedure, to eliminate anxiety and pain
• Light anesthesia
• Mild to moderate anesthesia
• General anesthesia

When you experience the sedation, you will feel like you slept through the entire dental procedure. Technically, the brain is still conscious when a person receives IV sedation, so you will have the ability to communicate with the oral surgeon and other staff members during the surgery. But, the relaxation will be so deep that you won’t feel uneasy and you won’t remember the events that happened during the dental procedure.

Benefits of Sedation during a Dental Appointment

These methods allow oral surgeons and other dental professionals to treat patients who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to sit through the dental treatment without sedation. These treatments are helpful for people with special needs, the elderly, people who suffer from anxiety or fear, and other patients who might be uncooperative during the appointment.

Additionally, sedation is necessary for invasive surgical procedures. Another benefit of sedation dentistry is that the oral surgeon is able to work quickly in order to complete a lengthy surgery in one visit.

Important Things to Know about IV Sedation

If you choose IV sedation, an IV will be attached to your arm so that the medication can be administered into your blood stream. The medication levels can be adjusted to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the appointment.

After IV sedation, there are several instructions that will need to be followed during recovery. For example, the patient should be accompanied by a responsible adult that can drive them home. Also, the patient shouldn’t be operating heavy equipment or driving a car for at least 24 hours after the surgery.

For more information about the benefits of IV sedation dentistry, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our dental office.