Going to a dentist is anxiety-inducing enough. Yet sometimes we must go and have procedures done as well. Fortunately, dentists like us have been introducing levels of sedation to ease anxieties about dental procedures. There are multiple levels of sedation such as our gentle technique which allows for minimal sedation of the area with tools we have in the office. The next step from there is an oral medication prescribed to sedate during the procedure. And finally, the one we will discuss at length today, IV sedation.
What is IV Sedation?
An IV is a device attached to a vein in your arm via a needle that provides fluids directly into your system. In our clinic, the fluid sedative is administered under the supervision of a board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Theresa Lee Roberts, while the dentists move through the procedure. Under IV sedation, there are a few different levels that can be administered for procedures.
The first would be normal IV sedation. Typically, good for patients with moderate to severe anxiety, IV sedation makes it so you can still respond to instruction during the procedure whilst not remembering it at the end of the day. The anxiety of the procedure goes away, and you do not even have to “experience” the procedure all whilst not being put to sleep.
There is also the option for a general anesthetic or being fully put to sleep during a procedure. Typically reserved for those who have dental phobia, a combination of intravenous and inhalation sedatives puts you into a deep sleep allowing the procedure to take place and keep your anxiety as low as possible.
There is also a local anesthetic. This is a numbing agent administered to block pain receptors in specific areas of the mouth to allow for a procedure to take place pain-free. This option is available along with the other two mentioned above or by itself.
Dental Procedures Done with Ease
At our beautiful location in Alexandria, Virginia, we are ready to help you through stressful dental procedures. With more than two decades of experience, Dr. A. Garret Gouldin has worked with thousands of patients who have anxiety with dental procedures. Dr. Gouldin along with the rest of our staff work to make your experience as stress-free and painless as possible so you can focus on doing what’s right for your dental health.
If you would like to talk more about IV sedation with expert doctors, Dr. A. Garrett Gouldin, Dr. Francisco T. Carlos, and Dr. Vishal Gohel, or are ready to schedule a procedure, consider calling our office in Alexandria, VA at (703) 683-0117 or filling out our online contact form. We look forward to meeting you and easing your dental procedure anxiety!
