Sleep Dentistry – IV Sedation
For many people, the thought of sitting in a dental chair causes a lot of anxiety. They feel “stress” both before the appointment and during the procedure. At Edwards Family Dentistry, we provide sedation options that greatly reduce the amount of anxiety our patients experience. The sedation options we offer are intravenous sedation, oral sedation, and Nitrous Oxide.
What is Intravenous (IV) Sedation?
Intravenous, or IV, sedation is a type of anesthesia that relaxes a patient when medication is given through IV access (typically a vein in the arm or back of the hand). This technique is an excellent option for minor surgeries or shorter, less complex procedures when an injection of local anesthetic isn’t enough but deeper general anesthesia isn’t necessary. There are several caveats which must be followed for IV sedation. These will be discussed prior to starting the procedure.
What is oral sedation?
Oral sedation is the administration of oral sedative medications to reduce dental anxiety and allow the patient to relax. Typically, the medication is prescribed at a prior appointment. It is also very safe. The patient is monitored in the same fashion as with IV sedation. And again, there are guidelines which must be followed. These will be discussed prior to the procedure.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous Oxide, often referred to as laughing gas, is a safe, low-risk form of sedation. It involves the placement of a mask over the patient’s nose. The gas is mixed with oxygen as it is inhaled. Nitrous Oxide minimizes pain felt during a procedure and is proven to relieve anxiety. It is frequently used on patients having dental procedures because it is easy to control the dose and it wears off quickly.
If you are looking for an approach to dentistry that allows you to relax and achieve optimum dental health, contact Edwards Family Dentistry today.
