If you are considering IV sedation for your dental treatment, talk to your doctor about it. Being informed will help you feel more relaxed.
Sedation dentistry can help children, those with anxiety and special needs to receive dental treatment. If you qualify for sedation dentistry, you are most probably wondering what options you have and what are the associated risks and benefits for each.
One option is IV Sedation.
I have NEVER had a positive experience with dentist…until now!! I was mind blown how kind the staff was, not just to me but to everyone! I have debilitating anxiety when it comes to dentists because of bad previous experiences, so I was very nervous. But, all the staff, including Dr. Thom, were very gentle, kind, and understanding. They took time to listen to all my concerns and address them, helping to put me at ease. I was also amazed how professional the whole office ran and how completely reliable they were. They easily guided me through the process and everything went so smoothly, including my sedation. I have never been treated so kindly by any dental office before, I was struggling to believe I wasn’t in some kind of dream. But. They really were that nice.
My recovery from sedation and all
The dental work they did to save my tooth was amazing, not a single issue! Dr. Thom even called personally to check on me a day later.
Coming back to put my permanent crown in was the same experience. They were all so kind,
Good about explaining everything they were doing and make the experience light and dare I say…fun.
I would drive 2.5 hours again in a heartbeat to do my work here. Best dental experience I’ve ever
had hands down!!!!!!! Thank you Dr. Thom for giving my life and tooth back. I’m so excited to not be in so much excruciating pain anymore!
Response from the owner:We can’t thank you enough for your kind and heartfelt words. Our entire team is dedicated to creating a gentle, supportive, and positive experience for every patient, so it means the world to hear your visit felt that way. We’re so glad you felt cared for and comfortable throughout the process, and we truly appreciate you making the trip to see us. Thank you for trusting us—it’s an honor to care for patients like you!
Dr. Hoffmann and his team takes great care of my special needs daughter. We have been coming here for over 20 years. The staff is so kind and patient with her and explains everything to help her stay calm.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your kind words and for trusting our team for so many years. We’re honored to care for your family and appreciate the opportunity to make each visit a positive experience.
I have had the best experience with Dr Behl and her staff! I have awful dental anxiety from some past experiences and they are so kind and supportive. Rebecca is incredible to work with. I highly recommend them to everyone I know!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your kind words! We’re happy to know you felt supported and comfortable during your visit. Our team strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone, and we truly appreciate your recommendation.
We always receive excellent care at the Dental Anesthesia Center.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We truly appreciate your trust in our team and are grateful for the opportunity to provide care.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
What Is IV Sedation?
Intravenous (IV) sedation is the administration of sedatives directly in the blood flow, through an IV. Sedatives are carefully dosed to keep the patient calm and still, while closely monitoring their vital signs and state of consciousness.
As a rule, a good St. Louis sedation dentist will choose the sedation method or dose that would require the least amount of medication for the desired effect. In other words, over-sedating or under-sedating should be avoided. From this point of view, IV sedation has a clear advantage over oral sedation (swallowing a pill), as we will show further on.
Benefits of IV Sedation
The dose can be adjusted along the way: the amount of anesthetic can be adjusted during the procedure and corrected if it’s too little or too much. This eliminates the problems that usually appear with oral sedation when the patient may need a different dosage and there is no window of time for them to take more or wait for the effect to wear off.
It takes effect quickly, reducing the total time spent in the cabinet, which can be stressful for many patients before the sedation works its magic.
Besides the benefits above, which are characteristic of this sedation method, IV sedation also shares common benefits with any type of sedation: it keeps the patient relaxed, safe and helps him get the much needed medical treatment.
Risks of IV Sedation
As with any sedation method, associated risks should be known and explained to you by your St. Louis sedation dentist. Studies show that the incidence of complications from IV sedation is very low, and the most common ones are manageable without extended medical care (like a trip to the ER).
Some patients are more prone than others to get complications, and there are certain groups of patients who should be sedated with caution. These include small children, the elderly, obese patients, those with respiratory problems or certain allergies.
Possible complications from IV sedation should be discussed with your doctor and sedation dentist. As said before, studies have shown a very low prevalence of such secondary effects, and most often doctors are able to handle these events on the spot.
Are You Interested in Dental Sedation?
If you are considering IV sedation for your dental treatment, talk to your doctor about it. Being informed will help you feel more relaxed.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
