At DFW Absolute Dental, our team of experts is ready to ensure you are comfortable and at ease throughout your appointment. Whether you are preparing for an upcoming procedure or facing dental anxiety about next week’s checkup and cleaning, we can offer IV Sedation to calm your nerves and give you peace of mind during your visit. Dr. Shahdad will safely administer the sedation through an IV, effectively putting you in a restful, calming state. Although you will remain conscious, by the time you are finished with treatment, you’ll hardly be able to remember your visit. To learn more about this beneficial sedation method, contact us today.
IV Sedation is typically administered if you are experiencing severe dental anxiety or are preparing to undergo a more complex dental procedure. The process is quite simple, as a small injection is placed into your hand or arm, and the solution enters your bloodstream, resulting in a comfortable, relaxed state.
This is an ideal option for patients who have a sensitive gag reflex, have difficulty sitting still, or who must have multiple procedures performed during one appointment.
Once you arrive for your appointment, your sedation dentist will use a tiny needle to insert a tube into your vein. The tube will be placed into either your hand or arm and within minutes, the sedation solution will begin to enter your bloodstream, and you will start to feel fully relaxed.
During your procedure or treatment, Dr. Shahdad will closely monitor your oxygen and pulse to ensure you have no negative reaction. You will remain conscious and able to respond to our team’s cues; however, once the IV is removed, the sedation will take time to wear off. Don’t be surprised if you don’t remember much from your visit as a result.
If you know that you will be receiving IV Sedation during your upcoming appointment, it is best if you avoid eating or drinking at least 8 hours before your visit. You will also need to have someone take you and pick you up from your appointment since IV Sedation does take time to wear off.
If you are taking certain medications, alert your dentist to find out if you will need to cease taking them for a certain amount of time before your procedure.
In most cases, anyone who experiences severe dental anxiety, is in good oral health, is having multiple procedures, or who has tried other sedation methods without success can benefit from IV Sedation. If you are fearful of needles, it may seem like a less-than-ideal solution, but Dr. Shahdad can apply a topical cream, effectively numbing the area, making it less likely for you to feel it once it is inserted.
After you receive IV Sedation and your visit is complete, you can expect to feel a bit groggy. Typically, the medication used takes anywhere from 24-48 hours to fully wear off, so you will need to plan on spending the rest of your day resting at home.
Although highly unlikely, there are patients who experience negative side effects after receiving IV Sedation, some of which can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and amnesia.