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IV Sedation Information
Some people have such dread of going to a dentist that they will avoid treatment even when severe problems arise. For these patients, our team of professionals recommends IV Sedation as a safe and painless solution to both their fears and their dental care requirements. IV Sedation allows patients to interact with the dentist in a sleep-like state where they feel no pain and lose subsequent conscious memory of the procedure. IV Sedation uses a variety of FDA-tested drugs that are administered by the dentist to achieve this unique state of consciousness that frees patients from both fear and pain.
During IV Sedation, the dentist uses a combination of anti-anxiety drugs to place the patient in a deeply relaxed state of consciousness that allows the patient extremely limited interaction with the dentist but inhibits sensation. The dentist delivers the IV Sedation dosage through a very small and thin needle wrapped in a soft plastic tube that goes into a vein in either the arm or the back of the hand. After insertion, the dentist removes the needle, leaving only the plastic tube, or “Venflon” in the skin. The drugs go into the bloodstream through the Venflon, which remains in place throughout the IV Sedation procedure. While administering the dosage, the dentist talks with the patient to determine the appropriate sedation level. Remember, IV Sedation differs from the completely anesthetized condition of surgery patients. Patients often report being in a fog-like state where they feel nothing and forget details of the procedure, although they do remember the needle insertion (normally only a scratch) and the dentist’s initial instructions.
Most drugs used by dentists for IV Sedation fall into the anti-anxiety category- the most common being Benzodiazepine (“benzo”), Midazolam, and Diazepam. The majority of dental professionals prefer Midazolam for IV Sedation because it purges itself from the system more rapidly than other drugs. Some dentists also use Valium, but it remains in the system longer and can produce a burning sensation when first entering the veins. For sensitive patients, some dentists will mix a local anesthetic with a Diazepam IV emulsion that the drug manufacturer claims makes IV Sedation easier on vein tissue. Diazepam enters the bloodstream at 1mg per minute, while Midazolam enters the bloodstream at 1mg every two minutes due to its additional strength. Each patient is different, so the dentist carefully considers which drug is the best choice in each individual case of IV Sedation. Additionally, the dentist will monitor both patient response to the drug and vital life signs. Once the patient reaches the correct level of sedation, the drug is turned off, but the Venflon remains in place so that if necessary the dentist can administer additional amounts. In the unlikely event of a rare emergency, the dentist can also use the Venflon to treat the patient with an appropriate counteragent.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
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