There are several forms of sedation available for a dental procedure, and the level of sedation may depend on your level of anxiety and the duration of the dental procedure. IV or intravenous sedation is a form of sedation for treating patients with severe anxiety.
Estimates indicate that fifty percent of the population admit to feeling a certain amount of fear when receiving dental treatment. Fifteen percent of the population feels severe anxiety at the prospect of dental treatment.
People often confuse IV sedation with general anesthesia. On the contrary, IV sedation, also known as conscious sedation, is entirely different from general anesthesia. Even in a state of deep sedation, by using an intravenous method, you will still be conscious, but unable to feel any pain.
IV sedation stands for intravenous sedation, where the dentist provides the sedative to the patient through the veins. IV sedation immediately settles you in a state of deep relaxation, which is a deeper state of sedation than achievable through nitrous oxide or oral sedation.
Time may seem to pass by quickly, and you may not remember the details of the procedure after you recover from IV sedation. The needle for providing sedation will constantly be providing a steady stream of sedative into your veins for the entire treatment.
During the Sedation Procedure
The dentist can adjust the amount of sedation as needed during the procedure. Since the patient will not be unconscious during the treatment, there is no requirement of external support for breathing during the procedure.
Patients can respond to physical touches and verbal commands from the dentist while under sedation. After the procedure, patients may feel drowsy or experience reduced reasoning and coordination skills for up to 24 hours from the time of sedation.
Levels of Sedation
Two levels of sedation are achieved by using the IV sedation method.
1. Moderate Sedation
Moderate sedation will render the patient in a semi-conscious state in which they are neither unconscious or asleep and can drift to a relaxing state. Since you will not be unconscious, this level of sedation is also known as conscious sedation.
Dentists administer this level of sedation to patients with a moderate level of anxiety towards dental treatment. You will be able to respond to verbal commands while under moderate sedation as you will still be in a conscious state.
2. Deep Sedation
Patients who have extreme dental anxiety or need to go through longer extensive procedures, such as dental surgery will need a deeper level of sedation. In deep sedation, the patient will keep drifting in and out of consciousness during the oral procedure.
Patients put under deep sedation will have no memory of the procedure and will not be able to respond to any verbal communication while under sedation.
How Can You Prepare for IV Sedation?
Since the after-effects of the sedation last for some time after the procedure, you may need to arrange for someone to transport you home after the procedure. You should not consume any food or drink, including water for at least 6 hours before the administration of IV sedation.
You may wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes while you visit the dentist for the procedure. Loose-fitting clothes also make it easier for the dentist to administer IV sedation without needing to remove your clothes. You also should refrain from wearing any makeup.
Ensure that the dentist has suitable qualifications for administering moderate to a deep level of sedation before the treatment if you require IV sedation. The dentist will do continuous monitoring of all the vital signs of the patient while under sedation. The best clinics have licensed anesthesiologists to perform this work. See our ranking of the best clinics.
The dentist will adjust the dose of sedatives depending upon the response of the patient to the sedation. Although IV sedation is a safe process, patients may experience side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, headache, and dry mouth
Conclusion
The best dental clinics in Costa Rica offer IV sedation. However, if you feel apprehensive about receiving dental care in Costa Rica and have the budget to afford dental care at home, you can search for pain free dentistry near me online to find a host of dental services that are near your location.
If you do not get timely treatment, you may complicate the problem over time and may force you to require extensive treatment. A regular dental check-up with the dentist will allow for the detection and treatment of cavities before they develop. However, many of us suffer from the dilemma of anxiety when considering a visit to the dentist.
Even while suffering from considerable pain from dental infections, the anxiety and fear of a dental visit may pull you back from availing proper treatment. Dental sedation is a boon for dental patients who suffer from anxiety that prevents them from getting treatment. Savvy patients are choosing dental care in Costa Rica to save money and enjoy pain-free dentistry.
The objective of dental sedation is to provide a safe treatment free of risks. It is vital to maintain your oral health and get appropriate treatment for your dental problems at the right time. Sedation also provides an escape from the stress of enduring a dental procedure.