IV Sedation

Intravenous (IV) Sedation Dentistry

Whether you are having an implant placed or you are simply a nervous patient, intravenous (IV) sedation dentistry makes your visit to our office a completely comfortable experience. Dr. Seddon has received extensive training from dentists all over North America and has brought his training into his office to benefit his patients. Many previous patients who have received sedation from Dr. Seddon for their treatment agree that sedation is a wonderful option for patients to have.

How IV Sedation Dentistry Works

Sedation is an excellent solution for patients undergoing oral surgery or for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. Patients are given a sedative one hour prior to dental treatment. Patients with a high level of anxiety may also be prescribed another sedative that is to be taken the night before their appointment. Dr. Seddon uses a benzodiazepine as the sedative of choice for his patients. These medications have been used for many years and have undergone rigorous testing to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Once the sedative has been administered, the patient will still be aware of their surroundings, but will be less sensitive to physical sensations making their whole appointment that much more comfortable. As always, Dr. Seddon and his highly-trained team do everything to ensure the well-being of patients. As such, each patient who takes a sedative will have their pulse and blood pressure monitored for the whole of their appointment.

What to Do Before

Ensure that you pick up any prescribed medications two days prior to your sedation appointment so that you can take them as instructed. The night before, eat a healthy meal and avoid having any alcohol. Get a good night’s sleep and do not eat or drink anything after midnight. On the morning of your appointment, you may drink water or clear apple juice up to three hours before your appointment. It is important that you do not eat or drink anything, including water, in the three hours before your appointment. Make sure that you wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be pulled up past the elbow to your appointment and refrain from wearing make-up. Finally, as you will not be able to drive yourself home, be sure that you have arranged to have a responsible adult take you home from our office.

For a full list of pre-appointment instructions, click here.

What to Expect

On the day of your appointment, once you’ve been seated in one of our comfortable dental chairs, you’ll be given a powder to put under your tongue. Soon after that, you will notice that you start to feel calmer and more relaxed. Pretty soon, you’ll be aware of your surroundings and able to answer questions, but you won’t feel any discomfort. You will be awake for your entire appointment, but it is quite possible that you won’t be able to remember much of it later due to the properties of the sedative. When your appointment is over, you may continue to experience drowsiness, so it is important that you have arranged for someone else to take you home.

What to Do After

After your appointment, it is very important that you are driven home by a responsible adult. Avoid strenuous activity while you are recovering and avoid any alcoholic beverages for two days following sedation. Make sure that you get plenty of rest.

For a full list of post-appointment instructions, click here.