Relaxation Dentistry: All About IV Sedatives

Ever thought about a painless and anxiety-free session at your Carmel, IN dental clinic? Now it’s possible with relaxation dentistry. This is a treatment that uses different types of sedatives to calm the patient during his or her dental treatment.

In this article, we’ll look into one of these sedatives—intravenous or IV. What is an IV sedative and how does it differ from the other types of commonly used sedatives today?

Injected Sedative

An IV sedative is basically a type of medication administered through the bloodstream using needles. Clearly, if you also don’t like the sight of needles, then this sedative is not for you. However, if you don’t mind getting pricked and prefer a faster way of getting rid of your anxiety attacks during a dental treatment, then IV can definitely help.

Awake and Aware

Contrary to what most people believed about sedation dentistry, a patient can actually be conscious and aware of the people and his environment while undergoing his dental treatment and being sedated. With an IV sedative, the patient can still answer questions from his dentist and have recollection about his surroundings. The dosage of the IV sedative may of course be increased depending on the level of the patient’s anxiety and the recommendation of his sedation dentist.

Getting Sedated

Before getting sedation treatment, you would need to consult with your dentist regarding the procedure. It’s important that you inform your dental professional about any allergies you may have and illnesses or health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. This is to make sure that your sedation treatment is properly administered based on your physical health.

After Treatment

You may not be able to fully regain your physical senses after your IV sedation treatment. Therefore, remember to bring a companion to help you get home safely. You are also not allowed to operate or drive any motor vehicle within 24 hours from the time of your treatment.

For more information about IV sedatives and sedation/relaxation dentistry, please contact Really Smile Dentistry at 317-597-8748.