IV Sedation: What Makes it Different?

We've previously discussed an exciting service we now offer at Stiles Dentistry, IV sedation dentistry, yet many patients may not be aware of what makes IV sedation different than other forms of sedation.

You'll commonly see dental practices that offer sedation dentistry, however this is often quite different than IV sedation. Many offices administer sedation in a pill form, which can be effective, but is also much less predictable than IV sedation. These forms of general sedation can cause a deep sleep or even unconsciousness to relieve the patient of any anxiety or pain they might experience otherwise. These sedation techniques require less training and certification to provide, which is part of the reason why they are more common.

IV Sedation, on the other hand, does not cause a deep sleep, and patients are conscious and responsive throughout the entire process. Our approach with IV sedation is to help patients achieve a completely relaxed state, while having little memory of the actual procedure. This makes IV sedation a much more reliable procedure than other techniques. Dr. Marie Stiles completed over 80 hours of work to become certified to administer the IV sedation procedure to patients. She is one of only a handful of doctors in the area to have this certification. The process is completely safe, and can be an effective way to overcome dental fears or anxieties without the complications and side effects that the more common forms of sedation can cause.

We would be happy to set up a consultation with you to discuss the sedation procedure we provide, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don't let anxiety or fear stop you from achieving a beautiful, healthy smile at Stiles Dentistry, call us today!