What Are the Benefits of IV Sedation? Are There Risks?

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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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.

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grace

All of the staff have been extremely incredible. Dr. Thoms was amazing & really helped calm me before my procedure. Dr. Thoms answered any & all questions I have had & was extremely understanding when it comes to having dental anxiety. Robyn was the best X-ray technician I have ever had. She felt personable but still extremely professional. Throughout my life I have been to numerous dentists in hopes of finding one that will take my extreme dental anxiety seriously & not make me feel bad for it. I have finally found my favorite dentist. The Dental Anesthesia Center is my #1 pick if I had to chose any dentist.

Dan M.

Hands down the best dental office in the area! They have always taken care of me and been very accommodating. The Doctors are the BEST!!! I would HIGHLY recommend this office if you are looking for a dentist! 5+ stars all around.

chrystal G.

I started seeing this practice as a scared middle age woman that thought she was quickly on the way to being toothless. Years later now, still working with the amazing Dr Behl and her amazing staff, I have been able to continue with my present teeth. Alway kind, full of grace, mercy and humor!

MAYANK S.

We have been taking our son to Dental Anesthesia since 2019. He gets his dental treatment and blood work done at the same time. We find the staff and Dr. Thoms highly professional. They communicate well and provide excellent treatment/services. Getting blood work done during sedation helps us a lot.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’re honored to be part of your family’s care. We appreciate your trust in us.

Theresa S.

This was my first time coming to the Dental Anesthesia Center, recommended by my sister whose special needs son has seen Dr. Hoffmann for years. I have a very difficult jaw condition resulting from a car accident and Dr. Hoffmann made me feel so immediately at ease that I’ve scheduled some extensive dental work to be done later this summer. I also loved my nurse, Ashley, who was so attentive, sweet and knowledgeable. She made me feel not as an anomaly, but valued and validated, and I hope she will be with me during my upcoming surgery. Thank you, Dr. Hoffmann and Ashley, for welcoming me to your practice!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for trusting our team. We’re honored to provide a welcoming, compassionate experience and will be sure to share your compliments with Dr. Hoffmann, Ashley, and the rest of our staff. We appreciate your support!

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.