IV Sedation Specialist
General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Stockton, CA
Whether you have a strong gag reflex, low pain tolerance, or anxiety around visits to the dentist, intravenous (IV) sedation can make your experience a lot more tolerable. At Image Dental in Stockton, California, Stephen Nozaki, DDS, MPH, DIDIA, provides IV sedation with anesthesiologist Patricia Ramos, DDS, MS for procedures like root canal therapy and tooth extractions, which can be more than a little uncomfortable or anxiety-inducing. To schedule a consultation for IV sedation with your next dental treatment, call Image Dental or book online today.
Intravenous (IV) sedation is a way of making your dental procedures and surgeries more comfortable. Medications that relax you enter your bloodstream via an IV drip, which your providers can monitor and control over the course of your treatment.
You’re conscious during your treatment with IV sedation, but you won’t have memories of the procedure once the sedation wears off. The medications cause you to feel highly relaxed and minimally aware of what’s going on around you. You can still respond to verbal commands or nudges from your dentist, but the sensations of the procedure won’t be so bothersome.
One benefit of IV sedation over oral sedation, which causes similar effects, is that IV sedation starts working immediately. This is because the drugs go directly into your bloodstream. The team monitors you for possible side effects and tracks your pulse, breathing, and blood pressure while you’re sedated.
Similar to IV sedation, the in-house anesthesiologist also offers general anesthesia for certain procedures and surgeries at Image Dental. General anesthesia is also administered with an intravenous drip but renders you unconscious.
IV sedation is a great option for individuals who have had bad past experiences with dentistry, need extensive dental work, have a strong gag reflex, or simply feel anxiety around the procedures they need. Dental anxiety is extremely common, so much so that sedation is available for many dental procedures at Image Dental. You can get it for:
Ahead of time, the team invites you in for a consultation to discuss the various options for anesthesia and sedation. The team lets you know if IV sedation, often with local anesthesia, is the right choice or if you should go for something stronger.
Once your dental procedure or procedures are complete, the sedative effects of IV sedation gradually go away. You’ll feel drowsy for at least a few hours after treatment, so it’s best to take the day off work and make sure you don’t have any other responsibilities or tasks to complete after your appointment.
For at least 24 hours after IV sedation, you should avoid:
The possibility of complications from IV sedation is extremely rare, especially because the Image Dental team monitors you closely during the treatment and for a short recovery period after it’s finished. Still, you should call the office if you have any concerns as you recover.
For more information about IV sedation and alternative options in dentistry, schedule an appointment over the phone or online at Image Dental today.