Sedation Dentistry San Diego . Rancho Bernardo . Poway CA

Sedation Dentistry

IV Sedation Dentistry Vs. General Anesthesia

Dental patients along with their dentists choose the type of sedation such as Intravenous (IV) sedation and general anesthesia based on many reasons when visiting their dentist—the most common being anxiety. In sedation dentistry, medication helps the patient stay relaxed during the procedure with no recollection of the details of the procedure. At the other end of the scale, a patient under general anesthesia has neither the memory of the visit or response to stimuli. IV sedation, regarding the effect on a patient, falls in the middle.

Pain, Anxiety, And Sedation

The apprehension of pain and related stress is a cause of worry for patients while contemplating a dental procedure. However, avoidance of oral health issues due to anxiety can seriously affect a patient’s dental, oral, and general health. IV sedation dentistry and other common sedation therapies can help patients cope with their fears about dental procedures such as surgery.

However, patients should think that IV sedation dentistry and general anesthesia are interchangeable as both are quite different. Dental patients and their dentist should discuss sedation dentistry suitable for themselves and their procedure.

At All Natural Dentistry, Dr. Amy Khajavi offers sedation dentistry. Dr. Khajavi is a practicing dentist of more than 20 years, is a specialist in full mouth reconstruction and implant dentistry, and incorporates biological dentistry at her dental clinic. A biological dentist, Dr. Khajavi only uses biocompatible material in all her dental procedures.

What’s the Purpose of IV Sedation?

In an IV sedation, a patient is administered a sedative through a vein for quick effect. The amount of IV sedation given to a patient is adjusted depending on the nature of the dental procedure: a calibrated amount reduces the risk of complications and side effects. Some patients in a semi-awake condition and can communicate with the dentist, although most have little recollection of the dental procedure following IV sedation. Dental practices usually recommend this type of sedation for procedures such as implant placement, wisdom tooth extraction, and other invasive procedures to put patients in a relaxed state.

In Which Ways Can IV Sedation Dentistry Benefit Patients?

Some of the significant benefits of IV sedation dentistry are given below:

Elevated Sedation Level: A higher level of IV sedation is possible as compared to oral sedation or inhalation.

Faster Effect: Due to the intravenous administration of IV sedative, it acts quicker, while oral sedatives need an hour or more to take effect.

Shorter Recovery Time: Compared to oral sedation or anesthesia, IV sedation patients need less recovery time.

Suit Anxious Patients: IV sedation achieves the required level of sedation for highly anxious or stressed patients.

Amnesia-Inducing: Patients are generally unable to recall the dental procedure after the intake of medicines in IV sedation as it causes amnesia.

Gag Reflex Is Suppressed: In some dental patients, the gag reflex is stronger, but IV sedation can suppress it and make treatment more comfortable.

Patients Maintain Consciousness: Following IV sedation, patients remain conscious, which is not the case with general anesthesia, which increases the risk of complications.

Cost: The cost of IV sedation is lesser than other sedation alternatives

Offers An Option: Patients for whom general anesthesia is not recommended can opt for IV sedation.

What Is General Anesthesia And Its Complications?

General anesthesia combines inhaled gasses and intravenous medications to make dental and other patients completely unconscious so that they can’t feel pain or respond during a medical procedure. General anesthesia is not commonly used as it can often trigger serious complications. It works by depressing the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and hence not recommended for routine dental work. Moreover, general anesthesia can complicate things further if a patient has the following health conditions:

• Drug allergies
• Diabetes
• Seizures
• Smoking
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Record of an adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Obesity

When Is General Anesthesia Required?

While general anesthesia is not used for most dental procedures, it can be recommended in specific dental issues and emergency cases such as:

• Wisdom teeth removal, wholly impacted teeth
• Patients who can tolerate medications used in IV sedation
• For complicated oral surgery procedures
• Anxious individuals who are unable to follow the dentist’s instructions after sedation

For most patients, IV sedation dentistry is the go-to option while undergoing dental procedures. However, only your dentist can recommend a suitable type of sedation in a given situation.

So, if you are seeking a dentist to resolve your dental issue and someone experienced in sedation dentistry and, please call All Natural Dentistry at (858) 683-4862 to schedule your appointment. Dr. Amy Khajavi has advanced dental degrees, is a multiple award-winning dentist, and also offers other major dental services such as dental cleaning, TMJ, treatment for neuromuscular problems, and cosmetic dentistry.