iv sedation

Intravenous Sedation (“Twilight Sedation”)

Our office offers our patients the option of Intravenous Sedation or Conscious Sedation or to some it is referred to as “Twilight Sedation” for their periodontal and implant treatment. Intravenous Sedation or “twilight sleep” helps you to be comfortable and calm when undergoing surgical procedures. Your treatment can be completed under intravenous sedation. Intravenous sedation or “IV sedation” (twilight sedation) is designed to better enable you to undergo your dental procedures while you are very relaxed; it will enable you to tolerate as well as not remember those procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you. IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with your treatment. You may not always be asleep but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep – a “twilight sleep”.

How is the IV sedation administered?

A thin needle will be introduced into a vein in your arm or hand. The needle will be attached to an intravenous tube through which medication will be given to help you relax and feel comfortable. At times a patient’s vein may not be maintainable, in these situations the medications will be administered and the needle retrieved – both scenarios will achieve the same desired level of conscious sedation. Once again some patients may be asleep while others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with medical conditions and/or on specific drug regimens may only be lightly sedated and may not sleep at all.

The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. This is referred to as “titrating the dose” to get just the right amount of the effet with the smallest amount of medication. It allows for much more control compared to oral sedation. At any time an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if necessary (although this is rarely ever needed).

The American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists recommends not eating or drinking anything at least eight hours before your visit or procedure. We will provide you with more specific details on eating and drinking, including when to start fasting, based on the time of your visit.