How Does IV Sedation Work?
IV sedation provides patients with a deeper state of relaxation during dental treatment. With IV sedation, you can expect to experience minimal awareness of your surroundings and little to no memory of your procedure. This is a common method of sedation for patients with severe dental phobia. The team at Gulch Dental Studio is dedicated to patient comfort and safety and will ensure that your IV sedation is administered properly and effectively. At Gulch Dental Studio, our staff in Nashville, TN, can help answer the question "How Does IV Sedation Work?" for patients with questions or concerns.
How Is IV Sedation Administered?
To administer IV sedation, a very thin needle is inserted into a vein near the surface of the skin, usually in the arm or the back of the hand. Medications enter the body through a tube connected to the needle, which stays in the vein throughout the procedure. IV sedation may not be the optimal method of sedation for patients with a fear of needles. While our team can use local anesthetic to numb the area where the needle will be inserted, Gulch Dental Studio also offers other sedation options, including oral conscious and nitrous oxide.
Drugs Commonly Used in IV Sedation
A number of drugs can be used for IV sedation including benzodiazepines. opioids, and Propofol.
Benzodiazepines
The most common drug used for IV sedation is benzodiazepines. These anti-anxiety sedative drugs have three main effects: reducing anxiety, making patients sleepy, and producing partial or total amnesia. In this class of drugs, Midazolam is used most often for IV sedation dentistry purposes. It is often the first choice since it leaves the patient’s system faster. Another benzodiazepine that may be preferred for certain patients is Diazepam.
Opioids
In certain cases, patients may receive an opioid intravenously, usually as an add-on medication to a benzodiazepine. These medications contribute to the sedative effect, reducing the dosage of other sedation medications. Opioids help control pain during and after the dental procedure. Opioids that may be used for IV sedation include meperidine, morphine, or fentanyl.
Propofol
This medication is used to achieve deeper levels of anesthesia and is generally not used in dental offices and limited to a hospital setting. This drug is fast-acting and wears off quickly. Propofol requires careful monitoring and a specialized machine that is programmed for each patient to deliver incremental doses.
How Will IV Sedation Make Me Feel?
Patients typically feel the following sensations soon after IV sedation is administered:
- Complete relaxation of the body
- A feeling of ease
- Minimal to no awareness of surroundings
- Quick onset
What Are the Advantages of IV Sedation?
Some of the benefits of IV sedation over other sedation dentistry options include:
- Deeper level of sedation: IV sedation will produce a deeper level of sedation than oral conscious and nitrous oxide.
- Fast-acting: The intravenous administration allows the sedative drugs to reach the brain and take effect quickly, usually within a few seconds.
- Quick recovery: Recovery from IV sedation is typically faster than from oral sedation.
- Amnesic effect: Benzodiazepines in particular have a side effect of amnesia, making it so patients do not remember the procedure.
- Appropriate for dental phobic patients: The deeper sedation levels achieved with IV sedation means that patients with dental anxiety can receive needed dental treatments.
The intravenous administration allows the sedative drugs to take effect quickly, usually within a few seconds.
Learn More about IV Sedation
IV sedation is a low-risk, safe sedation therapy for many patients, including those undergoing extensive procedures or those who suffer from dental phobia. Learn more about IV sedation by sending us a message using our contact form.
