Dental IV Sedation

I am very terrified of dentists, but I found with Dr. Sims that he explains everything he’s going to do. It’s a very comfortable environment, so I’m not as anxious as I was. I would refer Dr. Sims in a heartbeat. He’s the first dentist in years that I actually came back to.

Jill

Doctor Sims Patient

Changing Jill’s Life with a Smile

Keep Calm and Smile On.

Dr. Sims and his staff work hard to make sure that you have a comfortable, positive experience. That’s why we are pleased to offer IV sedation for surgical and nonsurgical periodontal and implant procedures. We know you may feel anxious or apprehensive about receiving care—but we don’t want that to prevent you from getting the treatment you need and deserve. IV sedation is a safe and effective way to help you relax for your appointment. Because of the comfortable state of deep relaxation, when your treatment is complete, you will wake up with little or no memory of the appointment.

Common Questions about Dental IV Sedation

We understand that you may have many questions about IV Sedation before receiving treatment. Here are some of the most common questions and answers about IV Sedation:

Will I feel anything during my treatment?

In most cases, patients do not feel anything. There is very little discomfort, and many patients wake up feeling relaxed and comfortable with almost no memory of the treatment.

Is IV Sedation the same as being unconscious?

No. You will still be conscious and able to respond but you will be in a deep state of relaxation.

Is IV Sedation safe?

IV Sedation is a safe and effective way for many patients to receive treatment. Prior to your appointment for IV Sedation , Dr. Sims will provide you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

How long will it take the IV Sedation to wear off?

The time it takes for the sedatives to wear off depends on the dose you’ve received, how long your treatment is, and how quick your own body can recover. Because being under sedation causes drowsiness, it is required that you have a family member or friend drive you to and from your appointment. After your treatment, you will not want to drive, drink alcohol, or operate machinery for at least 12 hours.

Am I a good candidate for IV Sedation?

Any patient, from children to adults, undergoing a surgical procedure and those who experience dental anxiety during nonsurgical procedures are good candidates for IV Sedation. If you have any of the following fears or concerns, ask Dr. Sims about IV Sedation:

Extreme dental anxiety, or fear of visiting the dentist
Fear of needles and/or shots
Past traumatic dental experience
Inability to handle the smells or noises of being at a dentist’s office
Overly sensitive teeth, a strong gag reflex, or trouble getting numb
Need for a more complex dental treatment
Self-conscious about your teeth
Desire for a more comfortable dental treatment

If you feel that you could benefit from IV Sedation dentistry at your next appointment, please contact us and let us know how we can better accommodate your needs.

What is IV Sedation in Dentistry?

For patients who are desperately afraid of injections, going to the dentist or getting a wisdom tooth pulled or a root canal is agony in more than just the obvious ways. Instead of giving up on having healthy teeth and visiting your dentist, maybe it’s time to consider Dental IV sedation.

What is IV Sedation?

IV or intravenous sedation is a procedure that allows your periodontist or oral surgeon to provide anti-anxiety medications, like those used in oral sedation, directly into your bloodstream. You may sometimes see this referred to as “sleep” or “twilight” dentistry which may make you think you’ll be completely unconscious during your procedure. In fact, you remain awake the entire time and will be able to respond to your dentist’s questions. You may not, however, remember much or anything once the medication wears off.

Dental IV Sedation Dr. Kevin Sims Hoover

Because of the nature of Dental IV sedation, you must have an adult come with you to your procedure and drive you home. They will also need to take note of what you have to do in the hours and days after your procedure and help you until the sedation wears off. While it’s an effective form of sedation, it’s not one to be taken lightly.

How IV Sedation Works

IV sedation puts you in a state of deep relaxation, much more than laughing gas or oral sedation. While the drugs are being administered, you generally won’t care at all about anything going on around you. Time will seem to pass very quickly, and you will likely experience partial or even full memory loss of the procedure when it’s over.

To receive IV sedation, a needle is used to insert a tube into a vein, usually on the top of your hand. The sedation drug is administered through this tube so it goes directly to your bloodstream. The IV stays in your vein for the entire procedure. While you’re under sedation, your pulse and oxygen levels will be monitored to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction. Before and after sedation, your blood pressure will be checked, too.

What Medication is Used

Like oral sedation, IV sedation uses benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety and fear during the procedure. The most common drugs used are Midazolam and Diazepam. This is in a different dosage than the oral sedation method. As anti-anxiety medications, they’re designed to relax you and make you sleepy. At this dosage, it can result in amnesia.

Pain medications like opioids are sometimes added to the IV sedation. This isn’t typical for everyone because the area being worked on will be numbed and pain should be minimal. Pain meds are most often used when a procedure will last a long time or if the postoperative pain will be unbearable. Even with the addition of pain medication, IV sedation is considered extremely safe for the vast majority of patients.