If the thought of going to the dentist makes you anxious or scared, you’re not alone! We see many patients who are scared or worried when coming to the dentist—whether for regular cleaning, a filling, or even an extraction. At Dental Associates, we want to better help patients who have these feelings. Some of our dentists underwent additional training to offer sedation dentistry. As a sedation dentist, your dental team will use an IV line to sedate patients and keep them calm during their dental appointment
Who Is a Good Candidate for IV Sedation Dentistry?
Patients with anxiety regarding dental treatment are the obvious candidates for IV sedation dentistry. But you don’t have to experience extreme dental anxiety or be terrified of needles to reap the benefits. In fact, a lot of patients are good candidates to see a sedation dentist.
Here are a few more reasons you may be a good candidate for IV sedation dentistry:
- If you’ve had a hard time getting numb in the past
- If you have a severe gag reflex
- If you’ve had traumatic dental experiences previously
- If you have a complex treatment plan and want to combine multiple appointments to save time
It’s important to note that when you come in for your consultation, we will do an evaluation to see if it is medically safe for you to receive IV sedation. Unfortunately, sedation dentistry isn’t available to all patients. Patient safety is always our priority, and we will work with you to determine the safest way for you to receive the dental treatment you need.
The Biggest Misconception about IV Sedation Dentistry
The biggest misconception about IV sedation dentistry is that it will knock you out or put you to sleep. Moderate sedation doesn’t exactly put you to sleep, patients often sleep because they’re so relaxed, but they are not unconscious or “knocked out.” Patients still breathe on their own and I can give simple commands that they are able to follow. Even though you are not completely out like one might be in a hospital setting, IV sedation will put you in a state of great relaxation. You will typically be so relaxed that you will also experience amnesia and you will not remember much of the procedure at all.
What’s the Difference Between IV Sedation and Oral Sedation?
The main difference between IV sedation and oral (pill) sedation is the ability to titrate the sedation to the exact desired level due to the immediate action of the medication through the IV line. IV sedation is arguably safer due to that level of control, and patients’ vitals are monitored constantly throughout the procedure. We are also typically able to sedate patients to a more moderate level of sedation than with oral sedation which may be necessary for patients with higher levels of anxiety.
For a dentist to do any kind of sedation in the state of Wisconsin, they must have a permit in addition to their dental license. Oral sedation requires a class I permit while IV sedation requires a Class II permit, which requires additional training to obtain. Often dentists in the Green Bay area will advertise that they offer sedation dentistry, but in reality, most only offer oral sedation as an option.
Does Insurance Cover IV Sedation Dentistry?
A question we often get from patients is “does insurance cover IV sedation dentistry?” IV sedation dentistry is covered by a fair amount by insurances to varying degrees but every insurance plan can differ. When you request an appointment and one of our team members calls you to schedule your visit, we will be able to give you more information about insurance coverage for IV sedation dentistry based on your current insurance plan.
To learn more about IV sedation dentistry, request an appointment below. We look forward to meeting you!
*Please contact your Dental Associates clinic to confirm the type of sedation offered locally.
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