IV Sedation
We understand coming to the dentist is not easy and can be very stressful and daunting leaving you awake at night. Here at The Heathcote Dental and Implant Clinic we offer intravenous sedation using midazolam to calm your nerves and help relax you during your appointment.
What is Intra-Venous (IV) sedation
IV sedation is a technique that consists of using medication to reach a state of relaxation and calmness, where you are still awake and conscious. The drug of choice is Midazolam, which comes from a family of muscle relaxants. A cannula (small needle) is inserted in the back of the hand or arm, which is used to administer Midazolam. Midazolam is carefully titrated to reach the required state of relaxation.
Affects of Midazolam
Midazolam is a benzodiazepine, which is a group of drugs used to relax the muscles and reduce anxiety. It is a very safe drug with instant effects. Midazolam enters the blood stream and works within minutes. The effects of midazolam include anxiolysis (anxiety relief) and amnesic affect. Midazolam works by causing anterograde amnesia which means you will forget events after the drug is administered, meaning you will forget the unpleasant procedure. Midazolam lasts in the system for 24 hours and then is completely broken down.
The Process
A pre-operative assessment is required where we record all the necessary information about you like, blood pressure, weight and height. You will be given all the relevant information regarding the sedation including the do’s and dont’s. On the day of the your procedure it is important you bring a chaperone with you to take you home and look after you. We will be recording your blood pressure and oxygen saturation throughout the process so we can correctly administer the right amount of midazolam required to reach total relaxation. After the procedure is completed, we will give enough time for you to recover before sending you home with your chaperone. It is important you do not bring children to the appointment. This will be explained to you on the day of your pre-operative assessment.
Will I be awake
The beauty of IV sedation is that you will be calm enough to give feedback on sensation and feeling whilst being conscious. We have had great feedback from our patients who have undergone IV sedation and has helped them overcome the fear of coming to the dentist.