Intravenous Sedation

Intravenous Sedation (“Twilight Sedation”)

For more Deep Sedation, our office offers our patients the option of Intravenous Sedation, also referred to as Dental Intravenous Anesthesia, or “Twilight Sleep”.  

Intravenous Sedation helps you to be comfortable and calm when undergoing dental procedures. Intravenous sedation or “IV sedation” is designed to better enable you undergo your dental procedures while you are very relaxed. It will minimize or eliminate any anxiety as well as significantly reduce your memory of your dental visit.  You will not be asleep but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep – a “twilight sleep”.

How is the IV Sedation Administered?

A thin needle will be introduced into a vein in your arm or hand. The needle will be attached to an intravenous tube through which medication will be given to help you relax and feel comfortable. At times a patient’s vein may not be able to sustain a needle for the length of the procedure. In this case, the medication will be administered and the needle retrieved. Both scenarios will achieve the same desired level of conscious sedation.

The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. A depressed level of consciousness is reached that allows the patient to maintain a patent airway independently and to respond appropriately to verbal commands and physical stimulation. The drugs, doses, and techniques used are not intended to produce loss of consciousness. Such drugs include Midazolam (Versed), Diazepam (Valium), Fentanyl and Meperidine (Demerol) administered through an IV line.

With IV sedation, a constant “drip” is maintained via the intravenous tube. At any time an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if necessary. IV sedation is very safe!

During more involved surgical procedures, an anesthesiologist may be required. These specially trained anesthesiologists perform general anesthesia, putting patients into a deeper sleep. The anesthesiologist stays with the patient until they are completely awake.