Benefits of IV Sedation in Dentistry

If you suffer from dental anxiety, you may find it challenging to visit the dentist’s office for routine checkups and dental treatments. However, you may find that minimally-invasive treatments like sedation dentistry are enough to help you overcome your fear and receive the care you need. These procedures have a number of benefits over traditional approaches, including:

• Less invasive treatment
• Reduced need for local anesthetics
• Faster recovery time
• Increased comfort
• Fewer side effects
• Decreased risk of damage to your teeth and gums from grinding or clenching during the procedure
• Improved results

However, it’s important to remember that intravenous sedation is only appropriate for certain patients. For this reason, you should discuss whether this type of sedation is right for you with your dentist prior to scheduling an appointment. 

Reduced Anxiety

Patients who avoid the dentist due to fear of pain may benefit from IV sedation during procedures like tooth extractions and dental implant placement. During IV sedation, patients are completely relaxed while remaining conscious and able to respond to questions throughout the procedure. Patients report reduced feelings of anxiety and an increased sense of calm while receiving dental care with IV sedation.

Dental implant placement is a common procedure for which IV sedation may be beneficial. The procedure can be lengthy and uncomfortable for patients, so reducing their anxiety levels can allow them to remain comfortable and relaxed during the treatment process. This can help them maintain good oral health and prevent cavities from forming at the site of the dental implant.

Another important benefit of IV sedation is for patients who have difficulty becoming numb after receiving an injection of an anesthetic. Some patients have a low tolerance for numbing medications, while others have a condition that makes it difficult for them to feel the sensation at the injection site. These patients can benefit from IV sedation because it allows them to remain completely numb while they are undergoing dental treatments.

No Need for Anesthetics

With IV sedation, patients are able to relax without feeling pain or discomfort at the dentist’s office. Patients can rest comfortably during their procedure while knowing their treatment will be successful without needles or drills. Additionally, patients who undergo IV sedation don’t have to be concerned about feeling nauseated after the procedure is completed. Typically, patients recover quickly with this type of sedation dentistry and don’t have any long-term side effects. Because they’re able to remain completely relaxed throughout the procedure, they can typically be in and out of the dentist’s office within a 90-minute to the two-hour timeframe.

Eliminates Memory of the Dental Procedure

Because patients under general anesthesia are unable to respond to their surroundings, they are able to get through their dental procedures without experiencing any pain or discomfort. Because the procedure is performed using anesthetics, there is no need to use any other type of pain reliever. This can eliminate any memory of the procedure in the hours after its completion.

IV sedation is proven to provide a higher level of safety for a patient than other types of sedatives. Before using this type of anesthesia, your dentist will want to review your medical history to ensure you are a good candidate for the procedure. Disclose all medications and supplements you are taking to your doctor to reduce the risk of complications or reactions. Any patient who has an allergy to local anesthetics and nitrous oxide should not use IV sedation. 

To learn more, visit Sedation Dental Spa of South Florida at 18431 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar 33029, or 2028 East Sample Road, Lighthouse Point 33064. You can also call us at (954) 433-4300 or (954) 946-8484, respectively.