Relax During Treatments
Dental anxiety may prevent patients from receiving the care they need. Some procedures, like dental implant placements, require a patient to be calm and relaxed to ensure the treatment goes smoothly. When local anesthesia isn’t enough, intravenous (IV) sedation can help.
This method of dental sedation has been proven to be effective in keeping the patient calm yet responsive. Read our guide to learn more about this unique form of sedation.
What Is IV Sedation?
Intravenous (IV) sedation is a safe and effective method of sedation applied through a needle into a patient’s arm or hand. The volume and types of chemicals injected can be easily controlled by Dr. Chaudhry. This will ensure that the patient enters a state of extreme relaxation, but is still conscious enough to answer questions if needed.
IV sedation is also considered one of the safest methods to relieve dental anxiety and prepare a patient for surgical dental treatments. It can be monitored and controlled more closely than oral conscious sedation. In addition, the patient will have no memory of the procedure.
Benefits of IV Sedation
While any form of dental sedation will help ease a patient’s anxiety, IV sedation comes with a few advantages that make it an appealing option for many patients. Some benefits include:
- Swift Administration: Some sedation methods must be taken hours before a procedure, but IV sedation works within minutes.
- Controlled and Monitored Administration: The amount of sedative can be increased or decreased depending on the patient’s specific needs such as different stages of treatment, leaving control in the expert hands of Dr. Chaudhry.
- Consciousness: Unlike general anesthesia, IV sedation doesn’t put patients to sleep, and instead puts them in a state of deep relaxation.
- No Gag Reflex: Patients who may have an over-sensitive gag reflex won’t have any trouble with IV sedation. They’ll feel no pain or sensitivity during their procedure.
Candidacy for IV Sedation
Most patients are ideal candidates for IV sedation, as it’s a common sedative that can be used for many procedures. Dr. Chaudhry will likely clear you for IV sedation if you have:
- Dental anxiety
- Low pain threshold
- History of bad dental experiences
- Sensitive gag reflex
- Difficulty with other forms of dental sedation
- Complex dental procedures
- Sufficient oral and overall health
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be awake during my procedure with IV sedation?
There’s a common misconception that IV sedation puts patients to sleep, but it doesn’t. General anesthesia is what’s used during medical surgeries, but for less complicated procedures like placing implants, there is no deeper sedation needed.
Is IV sedation the same as general anesthesia?
General anesthesia is typically reserved for invasive and complex dental procedures. An anesthesiologist administers this type of sedation and renders the patient unconscious.
For patients undergoing simple or minimally invasive procedures, IV sedation may be recommended if they have heightened dental anxiety or a gag reflex. Patients won’t fall asleep, and they can enjoy a shorter recovery time. It’s also a much safer option than general anesthesia.
How long do the effects of sedation last after the procedure?
It typically takes about 24 hours for the effects of IV sedation to subside. You may experience some drowsiness, headaches, nausea, and dry mouth during this time. It’s also likely you’ll have difficulty remembering the procedure.
Before the procedure, you should arrange for a ride home, as it won’t be safe for you to operate a vehicle. Dr. Chaudhry will likely instruct you to stay hydrated and rested, as well as avoid any activities that could harm you or another person.
EXCELLENT
289 reviews on
Gabriel Perez
November 12, 2021.
if i could give 10 stars i would . this place eased the pain i carried over 2-3 years at first i was skeptical because my past experiences, however they treated me good with respect.they really took care of me never have i seen a place so courteous. i think everyone in pain should go to this place it was the best for me . i had 7 extractions and they tookme in and i was seen in less than 2 weeks and the teeth were removed in about 20 minutes. they worked at god speed lol. great place. Thank you so much for taking care of me .
Nicole Perez
November 12, 2021.
This place is amazing. The staff are wonderful and very polite. My husband was in pain for years. We went to 2 different oral surgeons and for months they wasted our time. When I called Lehigh valley oral surgery, they listened and made appointments very fast. They even do (out of Network) referrals for insurance. Please if you are in pain and need to be seen this is the place for you. Thank you guys so much for everything you did for my husband.
Lauren O'Brian
November 11, 2021.
Very grateful that I was able to have my dental implant done with Dr. Chaudhry. He and his staff were professional and kind. They were sensitive to my concerns, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. Nicole, the implant coordinator, was especially supportive throughout the process. Thank you for making this experience as pleasant as possible.
Mateopuzzler
October 13, 2021.
Had an issue with my insurance didn't realize they type that I had so the information didn't go through, still saw me they day of my extraction and helped me square away my insurance. They are super friendly nice, and seem to be on top of their game. This place is highly recommended for a reason, this is the place to go.
Dori
October 12, 2021.
My son had 4 wisdom teeth removed. Initially the appointment was for March of 2020. Then the pandemic hit. They refunded my partial payment quickly. Fast forward to September of 2021. Rescheduling was no problem. From the front desk to the doctor and assistants, the staff was friendly and professional. They took new x-rays and found that the procedure was going to be less money! Everything went well. His recovery has been good. He still has some tenderness 3 weeks out. The only complaint I would mention is that we never received a call to check on his recovery. That would have been very nice.
Tami Giglio
September 30, 2021.
This place is great if you need oral surgery. Everyone is so nice and professional. And the facility is very clean. I highly recommend!!
Kristen VanFleet
September 24, 2021.
Had to have an emergency extraction. I was in so much pain and they were able to see me the very next day. The office staff starting with the receptionist was very pleasant courteous and professional. The hygienist was very kind and made sure I was comfortable. Dr Kim was excellent. I was given IV sedation and I’m not sure how I will be able to go back to having dental work without it because it made everything much better. They even sent me home with an ice pack which may seem like a small detail but it was a big help once anesthesia wore off. Choose this practice. You won’t regret it.
April S
September 11, 2021.
I went here a few days ago to get a molar pulled that was chipped and infected. I was completely terrified, so Dr. Farag brought someone in to hold my hand during the numbing shots, and her assistant offered to hold my other hand. She applied plenty of numbing gel, and only two out of all of the injections were painful because she had to inject the gum near the tooth of course, whereas the other shots were just more uncomfortable than anything. The nurses and assistants that held my hand were very sweet, encouraging, and made me chuckle a few times. Dr. Farag talked me through the whole procedure and gave me a break when I needed one. I'll be honest and say it wasn't completely painless, but I don't blame Dr. Farag whatsoever. She tried her best to numb me up, but the tooth was infected and probably couldn't be numbed entirely. Regardless, any pain I felt was probably on a scale of about 3-4, and only happened at certain times during the procedure; it wasn't constant. The pain from the infection felt way worse than anything I felt that day in that chair.
It was over pretty quickly. Her assistant stayed with me afterwards and talked with me until I was calm, since I found myself in a fit of tears after the tooth was pulled. I wasn't in pain afterwards, just really relieved, I think. Dr. Farag seemed to feel genuinely bad at how upset I was, and suggested that I be sedated next time or given anti-anxiety medication if and when I come back to get anything done. She's right, as I would say my own fear was probably the worst part of the experience.
I'm 3 days post-extraction and I feel fine. The bleeding stopped within a few hours when I got home, and the wound seems to be healing well. There is some soreness, a very minimal amount of swelling, and occasional twinges of pain in the area, but that's it.
I would recommended coming here if you need work done. Everyone here is very kind, caring and compassionate. They also honored the fact that I had panoramic x-rays prior, whereas some places will charge you for an x-ray even if you've already had one done.
Don’t let anxiety stand in your way.