INTRAVENOUS SEDATION IN DENTISTRY

IS IT SAFE? ARE THERE ANY CONTRAINDICATIONS?

IV sedation is extremely safe when carried out under the supervision

of a specially trained dentist. Purely statistically speaking, it's even

safer than local anesthetic on its own! However, contraindications

include pregnancy, known allergy to benzos, alcohol intoxication,

CNS depression, and some instances of glaucoma. Cautions include

psychosis, impaired lung or kidney or liver function, and advanced

age. Heart disease is generally not a contraindication.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF IV SEDATION?

IV sedation tends to be the method of choice if you don't want to be

aware of the procedure–you "don't want to know". The alternative is

oral sedation using Halcion, but oral sedation is not as reliably

effective as IV sedation.

The onset of action is very rapid, and drug dosage and level of

sedation can be tailored to meet the individual's needs. This is a

huge advantage compared to oral sedation, where the effects can be

very unreliable. IV sedation, on the other hand, is both highly

effective and highly reliable.

The gag reflex is hugely diminished–people receiving IV sedation

rarely experience difficulty with gagging. However, if minimizing a

severe gag reflex is the main objective. inhalation sedation is usually

tried first.

Unlike General Anaesthesia, conscious IV sedation doesn't really

introduce any compromises per se in terms of carrying out the

actual procedures, because people are conscious and they can

cooperate with instructions, and there is no airway tube involved.

ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES?

A needle has to be put in the arm or hand ("venipuncture"). If you

have a general phobia of needles, this isn't much fun. I you cannot

tolerate this, having inhalation sedation ("laughing gas") before the

venipuncture helps, because it relaxes you and distracts you from

the venipuncture. It is possible to experience complications at the

site where the needle entered, for example hematoma (a localized

swelling filled with blood).

Recovery form IV administered drugs is not complete at the end of

dental treatment. You need to be escorted by a responsible adult.

You should want to be sedated. If for any reason, you're unwilling to

"let go", for example because you don't like not being in control, it

will be more difficult to be successfuly sedated.

AFTER IV SEDATION:

1. Have an adult stay with you until you are fully alert.

2. Do not perform any strenuous or hazardous activities and do not
    
    drive a motor vehicle for the rest of the day.

3. Do not drink alcohol.

4. Take medication as directed by your dentist.

5. If you have any unusual problems, call your dentist.