One of the most common reasons people skip out on their dentist visits is due to fears about pain. At Lovett Dental Katy, we never want our patients to worry about discomfort. Therefore, we have a lot of helpful techniques that can let you take control of your oral health in a pain-free environment. Being informed about IV sedation will help you decide if this is a good option for your dental visits.
What Is IV Sedation?
As the name implies, sedation with an IV is a type of pain control that involves inserting an IV line into your arm. The IV may contain items like midazolam, propofol, ketamine, or dexmedetomidine. Using an IV ensures you get a steady, constant supply of the medication so that you do not have to worry about waking up or having the sedation wear off. With an IV, the dental professional can adjust this type of sedation to suit your tolerance level and procedure type. Depending on the level of sedation you get, you may just feel drowsy and have dulled sensations or you may not remember the procedure at all.
It is important to keep in mind that sedation is not the same thing as the general anesthesia used for extensive oral surgery. Though you might confuse these two types of pain control, you do not always completely lose consciousness from anesthesia. Sedation has fewer side effects than general anesthesia, so you can recover quickly and avoid feeling headaches or nausea for long. At the same time, it is stronger than topical anesthesia, so you feel relaxed and may not notice sensations at all.
Reasons to Use IV Sedation
A variety of dental procedures frequently use sedation with an IV. Many dentists like to use it for longer and more complex procedures like installing a dental implant. The ability to adjust sedation levels means your dentist can have you more conscious if they need your cooperation or have you almost asleep if they want to ensure you feel no pain. Some of the dental procedures that Lovett Dental Katy uses IV sedatives for include:
- Dental fillings
- Tooth veneers
- Root canals
- Tooth extractions
- Scaling and root planing
- Tissue grafting
However, sedation with an IV is safe enough that you might want to consider it even when you are not getting a potentially painful dental treatment. Lovett Dental Katy is happy to offer sedation dentistry. This is a branch of dentistry that lets you elect to be sedated during even routine procedures like dental cleanings that do not technically require pain control. Sedation dentistry can be helpful if you suffer from extreme dental anxiety. Those who have anxiety about pain or think they will not be able to hold still during a procedure can talk to their dentist about using IV sedatives to remain calm and comfortable during any dental treatment.
What to Expect With IV Sedation
Since you take strong medications when sedating with an IV, you do need to take a little time to prepare before any sedation dentistry procedure. Preparing for IV sedation is quite simple. Do not have anything to eat or drink for eight hours before your procedure. This will keep you from potentially vomiting and encountering dangerous side effects. Be sure to tell your dentist about any medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications to avoid any interactions with the IV.
You will also need to make sure a responsible adult is present to drive you following your dental visit. This is very important because you cannot drive or otherwise operate heavy machinery for several hours afterward. You will not be entirely asleep during the procedure, but you may feel groggy and drift off. You can expect to feel relaxed and not notice discomfort during the procedure.
If you want to take care of your teeth in a comfortable and pain-free environment, visit Lovett Dental Katy. Our trained staff can provide you with sedation dentistry services in Katy, Texas that keeps you from feeling any discomfort. Learn more about what Lovett Dental Katy has to offer by calling us at 832-437-6477.
