Trips to the dentist are not always painful, but dental phobia is a very real phenomenon that can leave people unwilling to visit their dentist at all. This can become an issue if there is a problem with one or more teeth, and can lead to bigger, more painful complications.
Although there are visualisation and breathing techniques dental phobia sufferers can use, sometimes having a dental procedure like a root canal filling or tooth extraction can be too much to bear. That’s why some dental practices now use gentle intravenous sedation, making the process gentle and stress free.
Rather than sending you completely to sleep, intravenous sedation generally just makes you feel sleepy and calmer. You will still be able to understand and respond to your dentist, but are likely to be undisturbed why what is going on. The drugs used for IV sedation usually create partial or full memory loss, later making you feel that you were actually asleep throughout the procedure.
How do I prepare for IV sedation?
- Remember to take all your normal medicines at the normal times
- Only eat a light meal and drink non-alcoholic drinks on the day
- Make sure you have someone to take you home after the procedure
What happens during IV sedation?
A very thin plastic tube will be inserted into the back of your hand, before a drug is injected that will very quickly start to make you feel sleepy. During the dental procedure we will measure your pulse and oxygen levels as well as your blood pressure. You will also be given local anaesthetic into the area that is being worked on to ensure that you don’t feel any pain from the procedure itself.
What happens afterwards?
Recovery is usually very quick, but your dentist is likely to keep an eye on you until he or she feels you are ready to leave recovery and go home. At Riverside Dental Spa, we always advise that you have someone on hand to get you home safely and that you avoid using heavy machinery, driving, drinking alcohol and riding a bike for the rest of the day and evening.
If you need a dental procedure such as a filling, why not call our expert team on: 020 7091 0677. We can help alleviate your dental phobias by using gentle IV sedation and ensure the health of your mouth is a top priority.
