Patients suffering from severe dental anxiety may not benefit from other sedative techniques and require a more potent solution. At Citrus Smiles, we provide intravenous (IV) sedation in Murphy, Wylie, Heath and Lucas TX, to lessen dental anxiety and help you stay in a calm, peaceful state during dental treatment. It is also useful for patients undergoing complex procedures. Dr. Aurora and his team will monitor your health through the sedation process.
Benefits of IV Sedation
IV sedation involves the administration of a sedative medication directly into your bloodstream through an IV line. Compared to oral sedation, in which the drug passes through your gut system, IV sedation works much faster and produces an immediate effect. The benefits of this technique include:
- It is an effective option for people with severe dental anxiety and low pain tolerance.
- The dose of the medication can be easily adjusted to suit your needs.
- You will remain conscious during treatment but won’t feel pain or experience restlessness.
- This technique is beneficial for people undergoing complex or multiple dental procedures within the same visit.
Keep in mind that despite the effectiveness of this procedure, it is not as commonly used as nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Our dentist may only recommend it in specific cases after evaluating your health.
Process of IV Sedation
At the time of your initial consultation, our dental specialist will gather your medical and dental history. We will ensure that there are no factors that may risk your health during the sedation process. Before the day of your appointment, we may ask you to avoid the consumption of certain foods or medications.
We also advise you to bring a family member or a friend along to stay with you after the procedure and drive you back safely. Before starting the treatment, we will gently secure an IV line that allows the flow of the sedative medication.
As it takes effect, you will start feeling drowsy. Our team will monitor your vitals throughout the dental treatment process. We will also adjust the dosage if necessary to help you feel comfortable. Once the treatment is complete, we will remove the IV line and allow you to recover.
How Long Do The Effects of IV Sedation Last
As IV sedation is the most potent type, the effects of the medication may take a longer time to wear off. For this reason, we advise bringing someone along to help you during the recovery period.
We will ask you to stay in the recovery area for some time. When your vital signs are completely stable, we will discharge you, and you can drive back with your companion. The complete effect of IV sedatives wears off within 24 to 48 hours, so it is better to rest during this period for optimum recovery.