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According to studies, a whopping 15% of adults in the USA have avoided their dental consultation at least once because of their fear of the dentist. Dental phobia is a serious concern that leads to patients being too nervous during dental appointments, if they even keep the appointment. 

The Need for Sedation

Whenever we have patients who have a fear of dentists, we use oral sedation to ease our patients' nerves. Apart from this, we also use sedation to numb the oral tissues, put the patient to partial or deep sleep as per the requirement of the procedure, and keep them from experiencing pain and discomfort.

At our dental practice, Dr. Larson and our highly trained team of dental experts thoroughly diagnose your oral concern and determine if you need sedation as well as the most suitable means of sedation. We also consider factors such as your level of sensitivity, your needs, and the type of procedure you're about to go through.

What Is IV Sedation?

Intravenous (IV) sedation is the process where the sedative is administered directly into the patient's vein through an injection. It is usually used during oral surgeries, which could induce severe pain and discomfort. 

Here are some of the advantages of IV sedation that make it highly sought-after by dental professionals:

• IV sedation takes effect more quickly than other types of sedation. The IV sedative reaches the bloodstream faster than inhalants or oral sedatives, helping the patient to relax almost immediately.
• IV sedation doesn't affect the functioning of the body. Only the sensation of pain would be suppressed while the patient remains conscious.
• In case the effect of the sedative begins to wear off while the procedure is still ongoing, the patient would be able to alert the dentist about it so that we can take necessary action.
• IV sedation has far fewer adverse effects compared to general anesthesia because the dosage can be measured and administered more accurately.
• The chances of experiencing blood clots and nausea are lesser with IV sedation.
• The recovery period with IV sedation is significantly shorter than with general anesthesia.
• IV sedation effectively eases the patient's nerves despite them being conscious throughout the procedure.
• Patients would be semi-conscious during the procedure as opposed to general anesthesia, where the patient would be completely unconscious.

Please schedule a consultation with our highly trained team of dental experts, and we'll provide more information and guide you further. Please call us at (206) 664-9129 or reach us through online consultation.