IV Sedation in Dentistry

If you have extreme anxiety or fear about going to the dentist, even for routine dental work, IV sedation may be your best option. Dental anxiety can lead to putting off regular dental appointments, which can result in more serious issues over time. IV sedation puts you in a relaxed, semi-awake state and can help reduce the need for multiple visits.

When you receive IV sedation at Orchard Park Dental, your dentist injects the medication directly into your bloodstream. The sedative takes effect quickly and makes you less aware of your surroundings and what type of treatment is taking place. However, you will still be able to respond to questions and instructions from your dentist. This allows you to remain comfortable and calm throughout the procedure. A dental professional will monitor your heart and breathing rates throughout the entire process to ensure that the sedation is working as intended.

The dentists who perform this type of sedation typically use benzodiazepines. These are drugs that have three primary effects: they reduce anxiety, make patients sleepy, and cause amnesia. The most common is Midazolam, but some dentists also use Diazepam and other similar benzodiazepines. These medications are ideal for this type of sedation because they can be rapidly adjusted to the desired level of sedation, which gives your dentist more control than other forms of sedation.




Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as “laughing gas,” is a mild form of sedation that allows patients to feel drowsy within three to five minutes. Your dentist controls how much nitrous oxide is inhaled, and it leaves the body quickly after your appointment. Therefore, if you undergo this form of sedation, it is a good idea to bring someone to drive you home after your appointment.

For a more powerful form of sedation, dentists use dexmedetomidine. Unlike benzodiazepines, which take longer to work, dexmedetomidine has a fast onset and works more effectively to reduce anxiety and put patients in a drowsy state. It is often administered in combination with numbing medications, which helps provide more complete sedation and pain relief.

Before the appointment, your dentist will give you clear instructions on how to prepare for your sedation. They will likely advise that you should refrain from eating or drinking anything for about six hours before the procedure begins. Additionally, they will likely require you to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home afterward because the residual effects of the sedation may impair judgment and reflexes.

Orchard Park Dental
6-483 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek, ON L8G 5B9
Telephone: (905) 664-7252



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