Intravenous (IV) sedation allows patients to experience a more pleasant dental visit
Intravenous sedation is a modern technique that, in the dental environment, aims to decrease the fear or anxiety patients may experience when visiting the dentist. Your treating dentist will recommend IV sedation after a consultation for procedures including wisdom teeth extraction and implant surgery, in addition to long treatment procedures or when multiple treatments are required.
This allows patients to experience a more pleasant visit to the dentist and allows for longer appointments in which a large amount of treatment can be completed in one appointment.
Intravenous sedation is always administered by an anaesthetist and involves a small cannula placed into a vein in the arm. Small amounts of sedative medications are then injected through the cannula into the vein. Patients have reported this as almost painless and the sedatives soon take effect. As the medications take effect, you begin feeling drowsy and very relaxed.
Commencement of dental treatment takes place once you are comfortable and treatment completed likewise. The most reported desired effect of IV sedation is the likely cause of some short-term amnesia, and once treatment is completed, you are unlikely to recall the appointment length of time.
Recovering from IV sedation
Once treatment has finished and your appointment is completed, we allow you to rest in our recovery room where we review how you are recovering in addition to informing you of how treatment went. On occasions, patients report they feel quite alert after treatment, however, due to the nature of IV sedation your body will not completely eliminate the sedative medications for up to 24 hours after your appointment. As such, you will require a responsible adult to provide you with transport home and we also recommend that someone remain with you at home to provide you with assistance and care while you recover.
Intravenous sedation is appropriate for a majority of patients, however, it is important that you inform us of your medical history and medication use accurately. This ensures that the sedative medications are modified to suit your current health status.
If you have any questions regarding your medical history and IV sedation, you may discuss it further with your dentist. Intravenous sedation is a very pleasant and safe option we offer to patients for the completion of dental treatment.
Instructions with forms for patients undergoing intravenous sedation