For some patients, oral sedation is not sufficient to overcome severe dental anxiety. Intravenous (IV) Sedation offers a deeper level of sedation where a patient is completely asleep during dental treatment. This is similar to the levels of sedation offered in a hospital setting for most outpatient procedures. McOmber Dental has an in-office anesthesiologist, Khanh Q. Nguyen, MD, to provide anesthesia services to patients. Dr. Nguyen is board-certified and has served as an attending anesthesiologist at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey. He was also a clinical director at Rutgers School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology.
When assisting in treatment at McOmber Dental, Dr. Nguyen’s only responsibility is to monitor the patient, ensuring optimal safety. With over 20 years’ experience in intravenous sedation for dental patients, Dr. Nguyen pays close attention to the airway while dental work is being done in the mouth.
Comfortable, Relaxing Dental Care Does Exist
Despite how uncomfortable and all-consuming tooth pain can be, many adults still put off dental care and dealing with their dental problems. The reasons are often fear of further pain or procrastination because they believe the experience will be uncomfortable. Fixing the problem, they worry, will be more excruciating than enduring the pain they already experience.
According to the American Dental Association, 22 percent of people don’t visit the dentist because they are afraid. This fear may be based on bad past experiences at dental offices or because of horror stories friends or family recount of their terrible experiences with dental care.
At McOmber Dental, we understand the anxieties many people have. That is why we offer options to prioritize patient comfort, such as IV sedation.
Are You Awake During IV Sedation?
No, IV sedation allows patients to sleep through their entire dental visit. This is why you will sometimes see IV Sedation referred to as “sleep dentistry.” It is not like general anesthesia; here, a milder medication is administered intravenously as opposed to the inhalation of anesthetics. Many times, IV sedation allows dentists to use little or no injected anesthetics like Lidocaine due to the reduced pain response during sedation.
Why Choose IV Sedation?
Patients who do not like the numbing procedure of Novocaine or are anxious about dental procedures can choose to skip all of those steps and wake up with all of their dental work completed. Special needs patients also benefit from IV sedation dentistry. Dr. McOmber is especially passionate about treating severely autistic patients who are not able to tolerate dentistry awake. Intravenous sedation allows patients to relax so our dentists can do their best work. Some procedures where IV sedation is commonly used include:
- Wisdom tooth extraction
- Dental implants
- Reconstructive procedures
- Cosmetic dental procedures
- Full mouth reconstructions
Since the sedative goes directly into the bloodstream, it works much faster than oral sedatives or inhaled sedatives like nitrous oxide. IV sedation also minimizes the gag effect, which may be more common in some patients than others. This sedation not only allows for patients to be comfortable but also allows dental professionals to work quickly and effectively to complete procedures. In a short time, patients will recover and return to their daily routines.
If you are interested in IV sedation for your dental procedure, Dr. McOmber and her team will be happy to discuss the details of this type of anesthesia and other options to help you decide which is best for you. Call today to schedule a free consultation at McOmber Dental and learn more about IV sedation in our Monmouth County, New Jersey office.