IV Sedation Dentistry: An Exploratory Guide to its Mechanisms and Suitability for You
Dental anxiety is among the reasons why many patients miss their dental appointments. Dental procedures like tooth filling and extraction are painful and may instill fear among patients. Thankfully, dentistry has advanced with modern technology. Today, painless methods like IV sedation dentistry help ease painful dental procedures. You can visit a dentist near you to find out if you are a suitable candidate for IV sedation dentistry.
Conditions That May Require IV Sedation
IV sedation is suitable for patients of all ages. However, dentists recommend sedation dentistry for patients with the following:
- Extreme dental anxiety
- A sensitive gag reflex.
- The extreme sensitivity of teeth
- Behavioral or cognitive special needs
- Patients who are to undergo long procedures.
The IV Sedation Process Including Monitoring and Recovery
The IV sedation process entails the following:
Undergoing Sedation
This is the first step of sedation dentistry in Waco. Your dentist will administer the medicine intravenously. Firstly, the dentist puts an IV on your hand and then puts sedative medication through the IV into your bloodstream. The sedative works quickly and makes you semi-aware of your surroundings. During the sedation, you won’t feel much pain. Additionally, you will still be able to breathe without additional support.
Adjusting the Sedation
The dentist monitors you during the sedation and makes adjustments if needed. Here, your dentist checks your responsiveness and body movements. However, you won’t be aware that the dentist is making adjustments during the entire process. The sedative enables your dentist to carry on with the procedure without you being fully aware.
Recovery
Recovery begins when the doctor finishes the procedure and rouses you from the sedated state. By then, the dentist will have conducted multiple procedures. It might feel like a few minutes, even if the procedures took hours to complete.
Sedation Amnesia
After the procedure, you might experience amnesia. In some instances, you might only remember getting the IV and responding to the dentist’s instructions. Even then, your memory might need to be clearer. Sedation dentistry is suitable even if you have dental anxiety, as it puts you at ease.
Going Home After The Procedure
You can experience drowsiness and nausea after the sedation. Therefore, it would be best if you took a cab home. Further, the sedation dentist in Waco, TX will advise you against driving or participating in strenuous activity for up to 24 hours after the procedure.
Alternatives to IV Sedation Dentistry, Such as Local Anesthesia and Oral Sedation
The type of sedation used by the dentist depends on your personal preferences. Your dentist gives you options and leaves you to decide on a suitable choice for you. Other alternatives to IV sedation include local anesthesia, Nitrous oxide, and oral sedation.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a form of dental sedation made from a combination of Oxygen and Nitrous oxide. Inhaling the gas relieves anxiety and pain during invasive dental procedures. The use of Nitrous oxide made patients laugh hence the name laughing gas. Nitrous oxide works by preventing oxygen from reaching your brain. Inhaling the gas numbs you and makes you unconscious, making it impossible to feel pain. However, dentists no longer use gas during dental procedures and here’s why:
- It causes light-headedness in patients.
- Costly
- The wrong administration or dosage may be harmful to the patient.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia blocks pain by numbing the nerve impulses of affected areas. The patients feel little or no pain at all during the dental visit. In some instances, the dentist applies numbing gel to your gum before injecting you. However, just like other dentistry procedures, this method has side effects. The side effects include allergic reactions from Anesthesia.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation involves the oral administration of medication in liquid form or pills. The medicine works by reducing anxiety and calming the patient, especially before an invasive procedure. Drugs used for the process are given to the patient one hour before the course, and they may have side effects like drowsiness. Nevertheless, the method is painless and is effective in curbing dental anxiety for ease of the procedures.
Conclusion
Overall, sedation dentistry is slowly becoming more popular in calming dental anxiety among patients. Today, patients ease into invasive dental procedures seamlessly with the help of sedation dentistry. IV sedation is the most popular method of sedation dentistry. Visit Hillcrest Dental Care for any restorative, emergency or preventative dental procedures and also to learn if you are a suitable candidate for IV sedation.