• IV Sedation

  • I. V. Sedation & Advanced Oral Pain Management

     

    Did you know that 20% of the population does  not go to the dentist out of fear???

    However 95% of those that did and used Conscious (IV) sedation said they would do it again...

    A lot of dental offices use terms such as "sleep dentistry" or "twilight sleep" when talking about IV sedation. This is confusing, because it suggests that IV sedation involves being put to sleep. In reality, you remain conscious during IV sedation. You will also be able to understand and respond to requests from your dentist.

    However, you may not remember much about what went on because of two factors: firstly, in most people, IV sedation induces a state of deep relaxation and a feeling of not being bothered by what's going on. Secondly, the drugs used for IV sedation can produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia) for the period of time when the drug first kicks in until it wears off. As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and you will not recall much, or perhaps even nothing at all, of what happened. So it may, indeed, appear as if you were "asleep" during the procedure.

  • Why Sedation for Root Canal Therapy? 


    1- Negative dental experience
    2- Fear of the sound of the drill 
    3- Difficulty with receiving injections 
    4- History of "difficult to get numb" 
    5- Claustrophobia when using Dental Dam 
    6- Limited mouth opening 
    7- Severe gag reflex 
    8- Apprehension of Dental Procedures
    9- Like using a magic wand.

  • IV Sedation Preparation

     

    - You will require a driver
    - Notify doctor of any medications or health conditions
    - Do not eat or drink 6 hours prior to your appointment
    - Wear comfortable clothing
    - Do not plan to go to work or drive the remainder of the day

  • Levels of Sedation:


    Conscious Sedation:

    This level of sedation is usually accomplished with the used of Oral sedation utilizing a pill prescribed before procedure, or with Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas).

    Deep Sedation:

    This level of sedation is appropriate for patients who have moderate anxiety about the root canal procedure and injections. This level of sedation is usually accomplished by medications administered through an IV. The medications can have an amnestic effect. 

    General Anesthesia:

    This is usually performed in hospitals and specialized surgical centers. Not performed in our office.

    All of your vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and EKG are monitored closely during the entire procedure by your dental team. Additionally you are monitored for an additional period of time until it is determined that it is safe to send you home.