Sedation
Services

If you experience anxiety around dental treatments or have complex dental issues that need to be addressed, Sandhills Oral Surgery & Implant Dentistry offers IV sedation & general anesthesia to ensure maximum comfort during your procedures.

With IV sedation, you’re given an anti-anxiety medication, administered by needle, resulting in a deep conscious sedation that helps alleviate any fear and anxiety you might experience. Along with the local anesthetic provided by your doctor, it will also minimize any pain associated with your procedure. While you will not be unconscious during your treatment, you will experience a heightened state of relaxation and may drift in and out of sleep.

IV sedation is safe, quick acting, and the level of sedation can be adjusted at any time during your procedure so that you remain comfortable at all times. It is often a good option for longer or complicated procedures as, in many cases, it will allow you to get all of your dental work done in one visit.

IV sedation can be a good solution if you:

• Have moderate to severe dental anxiety and difficulty relaxing during dental treatment (i.e. rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, dizziness)
• Have a history of traumatic dental experiences
• Are receiving dental treatment for the first time in many years
• Suffer extreme tooth sensitivity or have complex dental problems
• Suffer from TMJ, an unusually sensitive gag reflex, or other medical conditions that make it difficult or uncomfortable to receive treatment

Two appointments are usually required for an IV sedation patient. During your first, your dentist will explain the benefits, risks, and process, answer any questions you may have, and give you detailed instructions for the day of your procedure. The second appointment is for your treatment. Following your procedure, recovery is generally quick, although you may feel groggy immediately after.

General anesthesia is required for more complex and extensive procedures such as jaw surgery or facial reconstruction, where it’s necessary to ensure the patient and musculature are fully relaxed. Unlike IV sedation, patients are asleep (unconscious) during general anesthesia, eliminating awareness and any feelings of pain during the procedure. Local anesthesia, which numbs the surgical site, will be administered after general anesthesia takes effect, ensuring the patient feels no pain upon awakening.

Throughout your procedure, breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure are closely monitored by highly trained staff to ensure patient safety and comfort. After the procedure, patients are given pain medication to aid with pain relief and recovery.

Both IV sedation and general anesthesia require that you have another adult with you to take you home. Your doctor will provide you with detailed information and instruction on how to prepare for/what to expect pre- and post-anesthesia.

At Sandhills Oral Surgery & Implant Dentistry, our doctors and staff are highly trained, certified, and experienced with administering IV sedation and general anesthesia. Whether sedation is required for anxiety or more complex surgical procedures, our goal is to ensure the maximum comfort of our patients.