When you seek treatment from your dentist, you want to make sure you’re going to have a safe and comfortable experience and treatment. To that end, there might be some questions about whether IV sedation is the right option. In this article, we’re going to answer the question “is IV sedation safe?” and put any concerns to rest before your subsequent treatment.
About IV sedation
To clarify, IV sedation, short for intravenous sedation, is when a sedative is delivered through the patient’s veins. A bag of sedative fluid is connected to a small needle that is carefully inserted into the vein. It’s often used to help patients relax during dental treatments if they are nervous or otherwise not likely to remain still for the treatment.
Before using IV sedation, a dentist will make sure to go over your medical history to ensure that you’re a suitable candidate for sedatives.
Is it safe?
There are some alternatives to IV sedation, such as using a local anesthetic directly on the area being operated on. However, when carried out by a dentist specifically trained in using it or under the supervision of such a dentist, it is entirely safe. The only effects tend to be feelings of relaxation, sleepiness, and often the awareness or memories of the procedure.
A monitor will be attached to the patient’s finger throughout the entire process. Specifically, it will monitor their heart rate, oxygen levels, and other signs to make sure that everything is proceeding entirely fine. What’s more, the dentist will make some recommendations so that the patient can recover from the treatment as safely and healthily as possible. For instance, the patient will be kept in a recovery area until the sedative mostly wears off. After that, someone else will be required to help them get home, and they will be given a few instructions, like avoiding alcohol, heavy machinery, and some other things.
Who is sedation dentistry for?
Sedation dentistry and the use of IV sedation are most commonly recommended for patients who experience dental anxiety or have a phobia about being treated by dentists. There are plenty of people who might not go to the dentist if they didn’t have the option to treat their anxiety so they could sit through the procedure. Similarly, if a person needs a large amount of work done in a single session, then IV sedation can be used to help remain calm and comfortable for that amount of time, as well.
However, IV sedation can be used to help a lot of people, including those who have very sensitive teeth, a bad gag reflex, or aren’t able to sit still in the dental chair for one reason or another.
Final Thoughts
Is IV sedation safe? Of course. If your dentist recommends IV sedation, you can rest assured that it has been recommended taking into account any and all circumstances that affect your health and safety during the procedure. Only qualified dentists can use IV sedation, so you should feel comfortable that they have the expertise for the recommendation.
Vintage Oral Surgery has the expertise and experience needed to ensure your treatments happen smoothly and successfully. To learn about how we can help or schedule an appointment, call us today at 281-800-8852.