We are happy to be able to provide intravenous sedation as an additional service for our patients. Dental anxiety can create a huge obstacle to taking care of your teeth. According to the American Dental Association, almost 22 percent of people skip their dental appointments because they fear the dentist. Thankfully, modern dentistry provides several solutions for finding peace of mind in the dental chair. IV sedation dentistry is just one of those options for easing your dental anxiety. 

What Is IV Sedation Dentistry?

IV sedation dentistry works as a form of conscious sedation to help you feel relaxed during your appointment. This method does not put you fully to sleep, but it does make you less aware of your surroundings including anything the dentist may or may not be doing in your mouth. That means you can still respond to verbal commands or gentle nudging. Unlike other forms of sedation that are inhaled (like nitrous oxide) or taken in pill form, the dentist administers the sedation intravenously, which means through your vein. Once administered, IV sedation begins to work quickly, and creates a long period of amnesia, so you should not remember much of the procedure once it is completed.