IV Sedation For More Relaxed Dentistry
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who experience dental anxiety, you may benefit from dental sedation, but you might be wondering which form of sedation is right for you. Perhaps you don’t feel confident in your ability to remember to take a pill at a certain time or you don’t like the idea of inhaling nitrous oxide. In that case, then the sleep dentists at Chapko & Shah Modern Dentistry may recommend IV sedation. Learn how our Belvidere dentists can help put you at ease at your next appointment.
What Is IV Sedation?
IV sedation is the intravenous delivery of sedative directly into your veins. IV sedation is a form of conscious sedation. You’ll enter a state of deep relaxation (twilight sleep), but will still be able to respond to verbal prompts. While you may fall asleep because you’re so relaxed, your Belvidere sleep dentists will be easily capable of waking you up as needed.
Benefits of IV Sedation
There are many advantages to this particular form of sedation dentistry such as:
- Fast Acting – Because the sedative is injected directly into your veins, it works almost instantly.
- Short-Term Amnesia – With IV sedation, you’ll likely have little to no memory of the procedure. This can be especially helpful for patients with severe dental anxiety who don’t want to remember their dental procedure.
- Better Safety – Because IV sedation is a form of conscious sedation, you can respond and tell us how you feel during your visit. This will help your sleep dentists keep better track of your vitals and prevent and respond faster to possible complications.
- Easy Dosage Adjustment – IV sedation easily allows us to adjust the dosage as needed.
What To Expect From IV Sedation
Before Your Visit
Before your visit to Chapko & Shah Modern Dentistry, your dentist will give you instructions on what to do before your appointment. Generally, they’ll have you refrain from eating anything eight hours before the sedation appointment to prevent emesis (vomiting) and asphyxiation (choking). Clear fluids might be allowed up to four hours before the sedation appointment since these are the fluids that will leave your system fastest, reducing the chances of choking and/or vomiting.
You’ll also need to wear loose, comfortable clothing and short sleeves so you stay comfortable and so your sleep dentist can better monitor vitals and easily place IVs. Do not wear:
- Contact lenses
- Jewelry
- Nail polish
Contact lenses can dry out and damage your eyes during sedation, jewelry can damage the body due to pressure and interaction with surgical equipment, and painted or otherwise obscured nails can interfere with sensors and hide signs of cyanosis.
During Your Visit
Once you’ve arrived, we’ll ask you questions to make sure you’re ready. If you’re prepared, we’ll attach you to machinery that will allow us to monitor your vitals. Then, we’ll clean the future IV site and apply the IV. From there, your dentist will begin the main steps of the procedure.
After Your Visit
The effects of intravenous sedation tend to last 24-48 hours after initial application, so you’ll need to secure reliable transportation beforehand. During your recovery, it may be a smart idea to take time off from work to ensure you fully recover. Be sure to follow any aftercare instructions given to you by your sleep dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! When performed by trained professionals, IV sedation is very safe. With IV sedation we can keep better track of your vitals and you can easily tell us how you’re feeling throughout your procedure. We’ll monitor your vitals throughout the procedure and give you guidelines to follow beforehand to reduce the chances of complications.
Common substances used in IV sedation include Valium, Ativan, and Versed (midazolam). Your dentist will work in concert with your primary care provider to ensure you don’t have any allergies to any of the substances used during IV sedation. They’ll also check for a family history of reaction to any substances used during your visit.
If it’s deemed medically necessary, it’s likely that you can receive coverage for IV sedation dentistry from your insurance provider. We encourage you to contact your provider beforehand to confirm with them which costs they can cover. If you need help covering the cost of IV sedation dentistry, feel free to talk to any of our Belvidere dental professionals and we’ll help you work something out.
You may be a candidate for IV sedation if any of the following apply to you:
- You experience dental fear/anxiety
- You have a strong gag reflex
- You don’t like pills or inhaling gas
- You are due for a long procedure or multiple procedures at once
- You have a resistance to anesthetic
Your dentist will discuss all of your options for sedation dentistry with you during your initial consultation and help you pick the option best suited to your needs.
