30% Of American Adults

For some people, the mere thought of going to the dentist can lead to anxiety that stands in the way of much-needed dental care. If this sounds like you, read on to find out more about sedation dentistry. Research shows that as many as 30% of American adults avoid the dentist because of fear. For some, it could be a troublesome memory of a visit to the dentist when they were children.

Others are bothered by sharp instruments or the sounds and scents of a dental office. Still, others experience claustrophobia when the dentist is close within their personal space. No matter what your fear, at Grove Dental Group, we are able to settle your nerves with IV sedation or oral conscious sedation to make your experience comfortable.

IV Sedation Dentistry

IV sedation also referred to as “dental intravenous anesthesia” or “twilight sedation” involves the delivery of a sedative medication through an intravenous line. The IV is typically inserted into your arm or the back of your hand. The relaxing effect begins almost immediately once the IV begins. Although patients often feel as if they are unconscious, they are actually in a state of twilight sleep. In this condition, the patient is still responsive and can follow directions.

Twilight sedation helps our patients achieve a deeper level of calm and relaxation during their dental procedure, which allows us to complete more extensive procedures during one visit instead of multiple visits. IV sedation enables our intensely fearful patients to tolerate those dental procedures that may have been traumatic in the past. The patient’s memory or recollection of the dental procedure will be vague as the IV sedation alleviates the anxiety associated with dental treatments.

Our Twilight Sedation patients report feeling comfortable, calm, relaxed, and safe. Twilight Sedation instills a deeper state of relaxation as the sedative is introduced directly into the bloodstream of the patient. If you choose intravenous sedation, your anesthesia will be administered and constantly monitored to ensure the safest dental experience. Patients will not be able to drive themselves home after IV sedation, and may feel the need to sleep for some time.

While there are various sedation methods, at Grove Dental, we pride ourselves on our progressive approach and continuing education when it comes to helping patients achieve maximum relaxation in the dental chair. We will tailor the type of anesthesia to each patient’s needs. Sedation dentistry is a great option for the elderly, the disabled, the very fearful, or the time-constrained.

We want your experience to be the best and most positive dental experience possible. Knowing that sedation dentistry is available can be a great comfort to fearful patients. Feeling comfortable and safe are often the first steps in establishing and maintaining any dental health regimen. Having a calm and relaxed patient means we can focus on providing the best level of care in an anxiety-free environment. Sedation dentistry is an outpatient procedure, although we do require a friend or family member to drive the patient to and from their appointment. Most patients are able to return to their regular activities by the following day.