Intravenous Conscious Sedation, or IV Sedation, helps make you feel comfortable and calm during dental procedures. IV Sedation is designed to better enable you undergo your endodontic procedures while you are in a very relaxed state. It allows you to tolerate, and in some cases not remember, procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you. IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with your treatment. You may not always be asleep, but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep. IV Sedation is referred to as “twilight sedation” for this reason.
A thin needle is placed into a vein in your arm or hand. The IV catheter will be attached to an intravenous tube through which medication is given to help you relax and feel comfortable. Some patients may feel so relaxed that they fall asleep and others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with medical conditions and/or on specific drug regimens may only be lightly sedated and may not sleep at all.
The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. With IV sedation, a constant “drip” is maintained via the intravenous tube. At any time during treatment, an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if necessary. IV sedation is very safe!
Along with IV sedation there are also different “levels” of anxiolysis available to you in our office. There are nitrous oxide analgesia and oral anxiolysis or nitrous oxide in combination with oral sedation – basically we can tailor the anesthesia to fit your needs.
It can be especially difficult for people with disabilities to obtain access to proper dental care. They must find a dentist who is skilled and compassionate and can provide services for which some dentists may not be qualified. At Commonwealth Endodontics, we provide the expertise, technology, and dedication to assist special-needs patients receive endodontic care.
Disabled patients may face added challenges in maintaining their oral health. Their disability may make it difficult to brush or floss regularly; they may also suffer a severe gag reflux, or dry mouth as a result of medication. Drs. Finkler and Schroeder meet these challenges with sedation dentistry for the disabled. They are skilled in anesthesia for special-needs patients and can ease the fear associated with out-of-control oral hygiene with one visit.
Dental phobia is a real, often overwhelming reality for thousands of people. Negative previous dental experiences, fear of needles or drills, and severe gag refluxes are just some of the reasons people feel extreme anxiety when thinking about visiting the dentist.
At Commonwealth Endodontics, we are committed to understanding the very real nature of your fears. Not only will our staff treat you with delicacy and care, but IV sedation will allow you to experience dentistry in a whole new way. While engaging in a pleasant sleeplike experience, both Dr. Finkler and Dr. Schroeder will be hard at work making sure you get the results you desire.
