IV Sedation

Sedation Dentistry: A Relaxing Dental Experience

Imagine being able to visit your dentist and get everything, from simple cleanings to more complex and lengthy procedures, all done while you’re completed relaxed and comfortable. In some cases, possibly even sleeping through the ENTIRE process.

Sedation dentistry can be especially helpful if:

• Your fears have caused you to put off necessary dental care
• You want to reduce the feeling of pain or eliminate it completely
• You’ve had negative dental experiences in the past
• You have a strong gag reflex
• The sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office cause anxiety
• You need LOTS of dental work done and want it done in as few visits as possible
• You have extremely sensitive teeth

The Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

With different types of sedation dentistry available, the benefits vary by type, but overall, it offers the following benefits.

• Anxiety Relief – One of the most obvious benefits of all the different sedation options is the reduction of anxiety. While some patients from very mild anxiety, others have an extreme fear of the dentist that prevents them from getting the critical care they need. Sedation dentistry allows all of these patients to be completely relaxed during their visits.
• Analgesia – No one likes pain, and although many treatments don’t produce any pain or discomfort, sometimes the thought of pain can create unnecessary anxieties. Pain moderation can be achieved by the medications administered in the IV and also by the effects of Nitrous Oxide. When a patient receives IV sedation, pain medications are placed in the IV before any work begins or any injections are given.
• Amnesia – Normally, amnesia is not something you’d want to experience. When it comes to dentistry, however, some people prefer to forget about the entire experience, and this is where sedation dentistry can be helpful.
• Gag Reflex Reduction – While a gag reflex is normally a good thing as it’s there to protect us, when it comes to dentistry that requires work deep inside the oral cavity, it can be an obstacle to the work being done quickly. In this case, sedation dentistry helps to immobilize the gag reflex, which allows your dentist to work quickly and efficiently to complete your treatment.
• Pain Relief – No one likes pain, and although many treatments don’t produce any pain or discomfort, sometimes the thought of pain can create unnecessary anxieties. Because the patient is sedated, any pain that is present usually goes unnoticed. Also, when you wake up, you’ll quite often not even remember the visit at all!
• Get LOTS of Work Done In A Single Visit – For some, it’s been several years since they’ve visited the dentist, and as a result, there’s a fair amount of dental work that needs to be completed. Thanks to sedation dentistry, your dentist will be able to work quickly and efficiently, allowing you to get a lot of work done in a single visit. This means you’ll be out of the chair and on the road to recovery much quicker. 

So, if you have been putting off much-needed dental work for any reason, sedation dentistry could be the solution to help you restore your smile to its natural beauty and health.