What to Do Before, During, and After Your IV Sedated Dental Procedure

We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from a sedation dentist.

Having IV sedation for your dental procedure can be intimidating and overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. Although IV sedation comes with relatively little risk, the things that you do before your appointment and how carefully you follow instructions is important.

Schedule an Appointment – Call (314) 862-7844

Excellent

The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry

Based on 108 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Whitney S.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr. Thoms. My 7-year-old, who has autism, recently had dental work done here and the experience exceeded expectations. The staff was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding of his needs. They took the time to make him and us feel comfortable, never rushed, and explained everything. I am so grateful for this office and the team that made my son's dental care possible. I would recommend The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr Thoms to any parent, especially those with children who have special needs. They truly go above and beyond. ❤️

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words! We’re truly grateful for your trust in our team and Dr. Thoms. Knowing your visit was a positive and comfortable experience means the world to us — it’s exactly what we strive for with every patient and family. 💙

Joy H.

Very patient with elderly patients. Very good experience.

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re pleased to know the visit was a positive experience.

Carla B.

My son has been a patient of Dr Michael Hoffman since he was 5 years old. He is now 21 years old. My son has diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and therefore I am cautious of who I select as a treatment provider. Dr. Hoffman’s office is professional, kind and I know they have his best interest at heart. I highly recommend Dr. Hoffman and staff to anyone seeking dental care.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We truly appreciate your trust in our team over the years.

Paul

Super experience. Gentle and empathetic. All round care is great. Staff are wonderful.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad you had a great experience with our team.

Nancy S.

We are forever grateful for Dr Hoffman and his wonderful staff for having the vision of how to get necessary dental work done for patients who are dealing with autism and cannot tolerate it without dental anesthesia. We have been taking our adult daughter there once a year for the last four years. Thanks to Dr Hoffman’s vast knowledge and expertise, our daughter has been able to get wisdom teeth removed, cavities filled, teeth cleaned and detailed X-rays to know exactly what needed done. The Dental Anesthesia Center is a great service to the community. Thank you so much for helping us.

Response from the owner:hank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words about our team! We truly appreciate your trust in us and are honored to provide care in a way that helps make dental treatment more comfortable and accessible for all patients. Your feedback means a great deal to our entire staff.

Before Your Appointment

There are specific steps that a patient needs to take before undergoing IV sedation. To make sure that things go smoothly and you aren’t doing things to increase your risk of complications, follow the directions of your dentist.

To ensure that things go well, do the following:

• Wear clothing that’s nonrestrictive but warm. The temperature of the procedure room will be a little cooler than the typical office.
• Don’t drink or eat for a minimum of 8 hours before your scheduled procedure.
• Do not smoke for at least 12 hours before your procedure.
• Do not wear contact lenses during the procedure.
• Don’t take any medications before the appointment, unless they have been cleared with your dentist.
• If any part of your medical history has changed since your consultation, make your doctor aware of it.
• Bring someone with you to the appointment who can escort you home.

What Will Happen During the Procedure?

Once you arrive at the appointment, the doctor or nurse will get the IV started in your arm. All of the IV medications will be given via IV so that they can be pushed directly into the bloodstream. There will likely be a mixture of medicines including sedatives, anti-inflammatory, and pain medicine.

Although you will be heavily sedated, your body will still show signs of discomfort if you are experiencing any, and that will signal your dentist to adjust your medications appropriately. Your reactions will determine the amount of anesthesia that is necessary.

What Happens After the Dental Procedure?

After IV sedation, it is not uncommon for you to feel very drowsy. The anesthesia will last a while after the procedure, so be prepared to have someone escort you home and monitor you until they know for sure you are fully conscious and aware.

If you can, restrain from eating food until any numbness has worn off. If you can’t feel the sides of your mouth, you can be at risk for biting injuries, that can lead to infection. After the numbness has worn off, eat foods as tolerated.

They recommend not to drive or operate heavy machinery for 24-hours post-procedure. This is to make sure that the sedation has had enough time to work its way out of your system. Also, don’t make any crucial decisions because, while you might think that you are rational, the drugs might be unwittingly affecting you.

Sedation Dentistry St. Louis

Knowing what to expect before, during, and after your procedure, will ensure that you limit the potential for risk and also that you decrease any anxiety you might be feeling about your IV sedation.

Schedule an appointment: Call (314) 862-7844. We are a state-of-the-art dental facility for patients who require general anesthesia, deep sedation, or oral sedation for their dental care.