Patient Comfort

IV Sedation

What is Intravenous Sedation?

A great many patients who avoid dental care because of fear or apprehension may, through the use of various anesthetic techniques, undergo treatment in a relaxed, comfortable and safe state. We use intravenous sedation which is both easy to administer and pleasant to receive. This technique, which has a rapid onset, diminishes fear and anxiety and produces a pleasant state of relaxation. It will enable you to undergo your endodontic treatment in a very calm and relaxed manner. Time will seem to pass more quickly and your recall of events will be reduced.

There are many other advantages of dental anesthesia. Anxiety toward dental treatment is the leading cause of medical emergencies in the dental office. Intravenous sedation reduces the chance of adverse reaction by significantly reducing or eliminating moderate to severe apprehension levels. Additionally, intravenous sedation often enables the dentist to perform a variety of procedures, which would ordinarily take several appointments, during one sitting. Because intravenous sedation minimizes apprehension, it permits your dentist to work more efficiently and with more concentration.

The procedure is designed specifically for your comfort and safety during dental care. A fully trained and qualified dental anesthesiologist (http://www.adsahome.org/) administers the anesthetic, monitors vital functions and maintains patient comfort during the dental procedure.

Anesthesia Benefits

Patients who are apprehensive about dental treatment. When an apprehensive patient is calmed by the use of intravenous sedation, they are more cooperative during treatment, and the risks inherent in any medical treatment diminish.
Patients with a history of medical problems (such as heart disease or high blood pressure). These patients tolerate treatment better because they are relaxed and less likely to experience an adverse reaction.
Children who often fear the dental treatment required to maintain their dental health. Sedation eliminates a child’s fear and awareness of the entire procedure. This makes for a happier patient with a better attitude toward regular dental care.
Patients who require prolonged endodontic procedures or microsurgery. These procedures may be long and tedious and consequently stressful. Intravenous sedation reduces stress and increases patient comfort during the treatment. At the end of the procedure, the patient should have no memory of the procedure and therefore will feel less fatigued and anxious.
Patients with gagging problems. The sedation supresses the gag reflex so that necessary work can be completed.
Patients with a history of problems with local anesthesia. Occasionally, dentists may experience difficulty in obtaining the kind of tooth numbness necessary to perform painless dental treatment. Intravenous sedation can enhance the effectiveness of local anesthetics and thus eliminate this problem.
Effective time management is a benefit of intravenous sedation. It enables the dentist to perform a maximum amount of treatment in a minimum amount of time. This allows both the patient and the dentist to manage their time more efficiently.