phobic sedation
IV Sedation
Allow us to remove your dental anxieties
For nervous and phobic patients Clarendons is proud to offer IV sedation administered by experienced, skilled and qualified dentists. This is different from general sedation that you experience when going for a medical surgery.
Dental IV sedation used in the UK doesn’t usually put you to sleep and instead, you’ll be conscious throughout your treatment and able to respond to the dentist’s instructions. IV sedation puts you in a state of deep sedation and feeling of not being bothered by whatever is happening.
The benefits
IV sedation is reliable if you don’t want to know anything about your treatment because, as mentioned before, you’re not likely to remember much about the procedure.
The action is very quick as the drugs don’t need much time to be digested and absorbed, because they’re instantly in your blood stream doing the job.
The gag reflex is either dramatically reduced or even diminished, making the dentist’s job easier and causing less inconvenience to you.
Because it is unlike general anaesthesia, in the sense that patients are conscious, there’s no need for a breathing tube during the procedure.
More about IV Sedation
A side effect of IV sedation is memory loss between the time from when the drugs kick in, until they wear off. This is due to the deep, relaxed state induced. You’ll also have no sense of time, so the whole procedure will feel instant after the effects of the drugs have worn off.
The drugs administered (IV) are anti-anxiety drugs, not usually painkillers and therefore, your gum may still need to be numbed for the dentist to perform the procedure. If you’re phobic to needles you won’t feel anything at all as you will have already been sedated. Once the local anaesthetic has taken effect the dentist will perform the procedure(s), and you’re not likely to remember much about it after the drugs have worn off.
Intravenous (IV) means that the drug(s) are given directly to your veins and that will be done through a tube and a needle in your arm. The drugs used in IV sedation may include, benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety, propofol (also known as amnesia milk), opioids (pain killers) and/or barbiturates.
FAQ’s
Who cannot have IV sedation done?
Usually IV sedation is extremely safe, and looking at the statistics, it's safer than local anaesthetics. However, some conditions, diseases and drugs may contradict the use of IV sedation and these include and are not limited to:
- Central nervous system depression which maybe caused by some depression, anxiety and psychosis drugs.
- Allergies to the ingredients in the IV sedation mix.
- Sleep apnoea, loss of ability to breathe whilst sleeping, which can be undiagnosed and sometimes manifests in the form of snoring.
- Alcohol intoxication.
- Problems with kidney and/or liver functions.
The previous use of benzodiazepines also needs to be reported to your dentist as that may have increased your tolerance. Benzodiazepines is a class of drugs that include diazepam (valium).
Make sure you inform your dentist of any medical problems that you have at the time of the treatment and any serious problems that you've had in the past.
What are the disadvantages of IV sedation?
- Perhaps the main disadvantage of this method is the fact that you will not unlearn your fear from the dentist, as you won't remember the procedure.
- Rarely, in the site of the needle insertion in your arm you may develop hematoma, a localised swelling caused by blood. This is not serious and subsides in a few days.
- Full recovery from drugs is not usually achieved at the dentist’s office and you may still need to be escorted by an adult. You will not be able to drive after the procedure until you have fully recovered.
What happens after the procedure?
- You should go home for the rest of the day and relax.
- Make sure that a responsible escort is welling to stay with you until you are fully alert.
- Don’t drive for the rest of the day.
- Don’t eat a heavy meal afterwards. Eat something light and small.
- In case of nausea you should lie down and have a beverage.
- Do not drink alcohol for the remainder of the day.
- Keep taking your medication as directed by the dentist.
- If you have any problems get in touch with your dentist.
We are very proud at Clarendons to offer IV sedation to the highest standards administered by qualified, experienced and skilled dentists. Our spa like theme will allow you to start relaxing before the IV sedation has taken effect and you will be able to recover in a relaxing environment.
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