IV and General Sedation

Dental fear and anxiety are the major issues that stops people receiving dental care. The incidences and prevalence of dental phobia are quite high. Many research studies show that patients may even avoid going to a prosthodontist or dentist due to dental fear. Do you belong to this group and fear that your dental visit will be a ‘painful’ episode? You can set your mind at ease as the advancements in dental technology and materials can make your dental treatment relaxing and comfortable.

Sedation or anesthesia can help you in relieving stress and apprehension. Your prosthodontist may use local anesthesia, oral sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the magnitude of fear and other clinical factors. Many people get confused whether IV sedation or general anesthesia will be the best option for them. Continue reading further to explore the differences between these two forms of sedation.

IV Sedation:

In IV sedation, anesthetic drug is injected into the veins to achieve the sedation. Currently, most of the prosthodontists prefer this method due to the plethora of benefits it offers. These include:

  • It is a type of conscious sedation as the patient is virtually awake and can respond to stimuli like physical touch, verbal suggestions, etc.
  • The patient goes into a state of relaxation and calmness, and so the prosthodontist can easily carry out the dental therapy.
  • The total treatment time is reduced as the patient becomes comfortable and compliant. Moreover, your prosthodontist can also carry out other dental procedures within the same appointment.
  • This technique does not require the installation of an endotracheal tube in the respiratory tract to maintain breathing, unlike general anesthesia. The vital functions of body can be sufficiently preserved without the need for medical collaboration.
  • IV sedation causes complete or partial loss of memory about the event. This type of memory loss is advantageous as you will remember only few aspects or nothing about the dental procedure.
  • Patients can recover fast and continue with their routine with IV sedation.
  • IV sedation is comparatively safer than general anesthesia.

However, not everyone is a candidate for IV sedation. Dr. Michael Brooks will first carry out a detailed clinical examination and take into account your medical history before deciding to go for IV sedation. You will receive all the instructions before the process is started. Also, Dr. Brooks and his well-trained team will monitor you continuously during the IV sedation. The safety of patients is our motto, and you can rest your trust on us. You can be sure that you’re in safe hands.

General Anesthesia:

The general anesthesia given through a prosthodontist is similar to the one given during the surgical procedures in hospitals. The patient becomes unconscious under the effect of general anesthesia. It is achieved by a combination of injection of intravenous sedatives and inhalation of gases like nitrous oxide. The procedure is quite technique-sensitive and is usually done by an anesthesiologist. An endotracheal tube is used to maintain the respiration, and vital functions like heart rate may be affected during the process.

General anesthesia involves many risks. The patient needs to follow many pre-operative instructions and after the process, the recovery time is more as compared to IV sedation. Due to the broad range of benefits of IV sedation over general anesthesia, Dr. Brooks likes to use this technique to relieve dental anxiety and fear. At Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics, we have state-of-the-art instruments, and we use the advanced techniques as we strive to make the dental appointment at our clinic a memorable and positive experience for our valuable patients.

The first step to being free from your dental fear is having a consultation with Dr. Brooks. He is compassionate and friendly and will help you resolve your dental fears and anxiety. Do you have any questions or want to know more about IV sedation? Please call us today at (509) 796-0885 or contact us online schedule your appointment.