Intravenous Sedation
Home » Treatments » Specialist Care » Intravenous Sedation
Are you very anxious about going to the dentist?
Do you avoid treatment because you’re nervous?
Or do you need dental treatment that is challenging?
Why not make an appointment with our sedation-trained dentist, Lucy Smith?
Our answers to patient questions about intravenous sedation:
Would intravenous (IV) sedation help me?
If you are a patient who experiences a high level of anxiety about dental treatment, or you need a more challenging procedure, intravenous sedation can help you to receive the care you need. Although a dentist’s first approach is always to try to manage with considerate care and local anaesthetic, for some patients intravenous sedation is an effective solution.
What is intravenous sedation?
During the procedure, you receive carefully measured sedation medication through a vein. The sedative causes you to feel deeply relaxed, yet you are still able to understand the dentist and respond.
How does sedation help during the treatment?
Sedation helps by:
- reducing your anxiety and inducing relaxation;
- aiding partial or complete memory loss of the treatment;
- causing you to be less aware of the procedure, including the noises and vibrations.
Are there any risks?
IV sedation is only carried out by a specially trained dentist who systematically checks your overall health and medical history to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the treatment.
Although usually safe, there is always some risk with the administration of anaesthetic. The dentist is always supported by trained staff with life support training.
What are the alternatives to intravenous sedation?
One alternative to IV sedation is to have your treatment with local anaesthetic injections in the gum to numb sensation during the procedure. For most patients in most situations, the dentist can help the patient relax and feel comfortable during treatment under local anaesthetic.
Another option is to be referred as a candidate for treatment under general anaesthetic in a dental hospital.
Do I have to prepare before receiving IV sedation?
During the month before your sedation appointment, you will attend the surgery for a pre-assessment. At this appointment, we will discuss the procedure with you in detail and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions.
On the day of the sedation treatment, you will need to arrange an escort to attend the appointment and supervise you following the treatment.
We will give you a fact sheet to read yourself and to inform your escort.
Where will the treatment take place?
Currently sedation dentistry is offered as a SpaDental private service in Chard, Glastonbury, Plymouth and Tewkesbury.The procedure and recovery will be in a surgery at the practice you’re attending. You’ll be in a familiar environment with a team of people you know and feel comfortable with.
What will happen during the procedure?
At the beginning of the procedure the team will attach a blood pressure monitor around your arm, and an additional monitor on your finger to measure your pulse and oxygen levels for the duration. They will insert a very fine plastic tube into a vein in your arm or the back of your hand to administer the sedative. Once the sedative begins to flow, you will quickly start to feel more relaxed.
Once you are relaxed, injections of local anaesthetic around the treatment site ensure you feel no pain at all throughout your procedure.
Can I go home straight after IV sedation?
After the treatment you must rest with us for a short time while you recover from the initial effects of the drug.
When the dentist is confident there are no complications, then you can leave with your escort.
As the drug affects awareness for up to 12 hours after the procedure, however, you must not drive or operate machinery.
For comfortable treatment
Our dentists can deliver most treatments with minimal discomfort, yet sometimes additional help is necessary. First and foremost, dentists take time to help patients feel relaxed and confident in the chair. For many procedures dentists administer local anaesthetic as necessary, using numbing gel, a fine needle and a light touch.
However, for more invasive procedures, or to help patients who are especially anxious, your dentist may discuss different levels of sedation as part of your treatment plan. In the most difficult cases a dentist will refer a patient to a dental hospital for a general anaesthetic.
The most common types of sedation delivered in a dental surgery are oral medication, gas inhalation or intravenous sedation. If necessary, for the removal of impacted wisdom teeth for example, the patient can be deeply sedated. Whenever medication is needed, it is carefully considered and administered.
Sedation helps by
- eliminating pain
- reducing stress
- enabling your dental practitioner to work easily
- ensuring you receive quality treatment in comfort
Considerations before and after sedation
People may react differently to pain relief and sedation. During pregnancy it is best to avoid all but essential dental treatments. If you take medication, have experienced any allergic reactions or have a medical condition, please be sure to inform your dentist. Usually the effects of the administered medication will wear off in a few hours, but it is important to consider travel arrangements home after sedation treatment. Ask your dentist for advice about regular checks and preventative oral hygiene practices.
