Carlsbad Biological Dentist Answers Questions About Sedation And Explains Oral Vs. Iv Sedation
Have you neglected your teeth because you fear going to the dentist? Has your health started to suffer from your dental condition? Are you concerned about sitting still for an extensive procedure necessary to improve oral wellness? Dr. Al A. Fallah offers soothing solutions at his Carlsbad, CA biological dental practice. He explains oral sedation vs. IV sedation to help individuals like you make informed treatment decisions.
UNDERSTANDING IV SEDATION
You probably know that IV is an abbreviation for “intravenous” which literally means “introduced into a vein.” Sedation is, of course, a drug administered to produce a calm state. So, in the context of dentistry, IV sedation is a means of relaxing, mentally and physically, for treatment. It is important to understand that sedation is not a pain block. Rather, it calms anxiety centers in the brain. Local numbing is still necessary for most procedures.
This sedation method is sometimes called MAC (monitored anesthesia care) or twilight sleep. A minimal amount could be all that is necessary for mild anxiety or a moderate dose for a lengthy procedure. You remain conscious but breathe naturally (intubation is not necessary). You are, depending on the depth of sedation, able to move and respond to conversation. Some people become so relaxed they doze off during treatment.
IV sedation has a long history of safe use for minor medical procedures such as colonoscopy, hernia repair, and cosmetic surgery.
ABOUT ORAL SEDATION VS. IV SEDATION – CARLSBAD DENTIST EXPLAINS
To determine if IV sedation is right for you, Dr. Fallah begins with an unhurried discussion about your concerns, current medical status, medications, and allergies. If together, you decide to proceed with IV sedation, he discusses pre-procedure precautions such as not eating for 6 hours, no liquids for 4 hours prior to the sedation. You also receive, in advance of treatment, instructions to follow at home to speed healing and promote uneventful recovery.
You may be groggy after your appointment, so having a ride home is imperative. You should have someone to stay with you for a few hours after you return home. Expect to take the rest of the day off, and feel refreshed the next morning.
Oral sedation (Triazolam) is a pill in the Valium family, taken to induce a state of relaxation. It has much of the above in common with IV sedation. However, there are important distinctions:
- IV sedation involves a carefully dispensed dose of medication that is continually monitored and adjusted as necessary during the appointment to ensure patient comfort. It is more difficult to gauge the exact dose of oral sedation needed, and it cannot be modified once the pill is ingested. With IV sedation, we can maintain a consistently safe and comfortable level of sedation. The typical sedative we use is Versed, which is very safe with a half life of approximately 1.5 hour. That means that within 1.5 hour, half of the medication is inactivated by your liver.
- IV sedation begins to take effect within minutes after it is administered. Oral sedation must be taken an hour or more before treatment. Again, with oral sedation, there is no sure way to determine how long it will take to affect your unique physiology.
- Once the IV line is in, it can be used to draw blood (such as for Advanced PRF, regular PRF or Injectable PRF) during the procedure. With oral sedation, each blood draw requires a separate needle stick.
- IV sedation begins to wear off immediately once the flow of medication is stopped. It takes a bit longer for the body to metabolize oral sedation.
- Especially at moderate and deeper levels of IV sedation, the patient generally has little or no memory of the experience when the drug wears off. Oral sedation has a less amnesic effect.
While oral conscious sedation remains a sound option for some dental procedures, most patients find the benefits of IV sedation far outweigh an initial quick pinch.
REASONS TO CONSIDER IV SEDATION
Dr. Fallah became trained and licensed to administer IV sedation because he believes the benefits to the patient are significant and extend well beyond those who have dental anxiety.
At the core of biological or holistic dentistry is the understanding that all systems of the body are intimately connected. Even a patient who has no fear of dental care is likely to be a little nervous about extraction or other invasive procedure. That energy is transferred to the body. Without sedation, it causes involuntary tightening of the muscles, thus increasing the likelihood of jaw, neck, and back strain. This increased level of trauma extends the healing period after treatment, as well.
Calming IV sedation allows the dental team to complete their work precisely and efficiently, reducing the patient’s chair time. Oftentimes, just knowing that the option of IV sedation exists helps the dental phobic individual take the first step toward getting necessary treatment.
Become a patient at Dentistry for San Diego to learn more about dental care focused on your whole health. The number in Carlsbad, CA is (760) 730-1600.
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