For patients who want to be unaware of treatment this is the choice of most patients. Intravenous sedation can be provided in a number of ways producing a very pleasant experience for the patient. Good operating conditions for the surgeon combined with fantastic safety. Intravenous sedation is so effective that it is often hard to suggest any other form of dental treatment to those who have experienced it.
This powerful form of anxiety relief, hypnosis and relaxation involves drugs given into a vein. There are a number of techniques including "traditional" IV Sedation, Continuous Infusion Sedation, and Patient Controlled Sedation. All these techniques produce a feeling of relaxation and sleepiness. Treatment can then be carried out by using the normal local anaesthetic which is given as needed during treatment. However this is almost never remembered by patients. Most people who think they need general anaesthesia because of fear and most of those who try IV sedation would never have an anaesthetic again.
The dental surgeon administers one or more drugs into a vein. The amount of drug is measured to the patient's need because everybody's needs are variable. With most techniques this produces sedation lasting about 1 hour. However this time period can be extended or shortened if necessary. This type of IV sedation is very effective and leaves most patients slightly sleepy for the rest of the day. It produces excellent amnesia (loss of memory of the events during the procedure). This type of sedation can be used for routine conservation (fillings etc) or surgery such as the removal of wisdom teeth.
