IV Sedation Dentistry: Managing Anxiety and Ensuring a Comfortable Experience

Patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist may benefit from sedation dentistry. IV sedation is one of the most effective options for anxiety management and can range from minimal to moderate to deep sedation.

Patients undergoing IV sedation Knightdale NC should arrange for a designated driver to take them home after their procedure as they will be very drowsy. The drowsiness can extend for several hours, making it advisable to avoid driving and operating machinery.

Drowsiness

During IV sedation, the sedative drugs enter your bloodstream directly through an intravenous drip. It’s a safer and more effective option than oral conscious sedation because the medication is delivered more quickly and can be adjusted to suit your specific needs throughout the procedure. Patients feel deeply relaxed and often fall asleep during the treatment, putting them in a dream-like state like “twilight sleep.”

Depending on the medications used, you may experience a wide range of side effects from drowsiness to altered perception. In most cases, however, this is not harmful and will subside once the sedation wears off.

After the treatment, it’s best to arrange for someone to drive you home and to avoid strenuous activity, taking any new medications or making important decisions until your drowsiness and amnesia subside. Rest and drink lots of water as you recover from the sedation. The team will provide you with clear instructions on what you should and shouldn’t eat and drink during this time.

Short-Term Memory Loss

A major advantage of IV sedation is that it allows the medications to reach the brain and begin their effect within minutes. Consequently, most patients feel very relaxed and sleepy almost immediately after the procedure begins. In fact, this is why IV sedation is sometimes referred to as “twilight sleep”.

Patients receiving IV sedation Knightdale NC typically have little or no memory of the procedure afterward due to the amnesic effects of the medications. However, they may remember feeling drowsy or lethargic after the treatment. Since drowsiness can last for several hours, it is important to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.

Because of how the sedative medications affect the brain and gastrointestinal system, some patients experience nausea or vomiting upon waking from sedation. If these symptoms persist or worsen, contact your dentist right away as this may indicate a problem like an allergic reaction to the sedative medication or an infection at the injection site.

Respiratory Distress

Unlike oral or nitrous oxide sedation, the medicines administered through iv sedation enter your bloodstream and begin to take effect very quickly. As a result, many patients experience a feeling of extreme relaxation within minutes of the medicine taking effect.

This rapid onset of action also poses problems for monitoring the patient. Especially in the hands of an inexperienced practitioner, intravenous sedation can rapidly deteriorate into unconsciousness and necessitate the use of a breathing tube. It is therefore very important that the sedation of a patient be managed by an experienced practitioner or a team of practitioners.

It is also important to note that the sedatives can cause phlebitis (a thrombosis at the site of a venipuncture) and increase the risk of hepatic failure. This is particularly true in patients with preexisting liver disease. The risk of hepatic failure increases with increasing doses and longer duration of sedation. Despite these drawbacks, iv sedation remains the only practical option for the administration of organ protective ventilation during ARDS.

Sedative Side Effects

With IV sedation, the sedative enters the bloodstream immediately and takes effect much more quickly than oral conscious sedation medication. This allows our dentists to work more quickly and efficiently with less interruption and distraction. Additionally, the gag reflex is diminished significantly, making it easier to perform certain dental procedures like significant tooth extractions and root canals.

While rare, an allergic reaction to the sedative used in IV sedation Knightdale NC can occur. This can cause itching, a rash or difficulty breathing. Patients with known allergies should make sure their sedation dentist is aware of them.

After your appointment, you may experience some lingering effects from sedation, especially drowsiness and cognitive impairment. This is why it is important to have a friend or loved one drive you home after your appointment and that you prioritize rest for the remainder of the day. Also, you might experience mild tenderness where the IV line was inserted, usually in your arm or hand. More severe symptoms, such as fever, swelling, redness, drainage or streaks of pus, warrant evaluation for complications like phlebitis.