Why is IV sedation recommended?
The use of IV sedation for surgical procedures is highly recommended because it facilitates your comfort throughout, and following the surgical procedure. Knowing that you are completely comfortable allows us as surgeons to do the procedure in a more efficient manner resulting in less trauma to the surgical site, better healing, and less post-operative pain for you.
There are also certain precautions that you the patient will need to follow to make IV sedation more safe and effective. They include such things as not eating or drinking anything 6-8 hours prior to the procedure as well as having an adult escort to drive you to and from the appointment and monitor you for some time afterwards. For a complete list of do’s and don’ts as well as risks and benefits please see the downloadable forms on our website
Other forms of sedation utilizing nitrous oxide and oral sedation are also available for use in the office.
Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous oxide, also called “laughing gas” or “happy gas” is breathed in through your nose and makes you feel like you are floating and tingly. This is completely reversible, and once the gas is turned off, the nitrous will be cleared from your system within 2-5 minutes. You can safely drive yourself home after using nitrous oxide. The nose mask can sometimes be difficult and uncomfortable for claustrophobic individuals and it makes it a little more difficult for the operator to do the necessary procedures.
Oral sedation – Oral sedation utilizes a pill such as Halcion or Valium that is taken the night before as well as the hour before the procedure and can cause light to deep sedation depending on multiple factors for each patient. It can help calm and relax you and may even cause you to sleep or be sleepy during the procedure. This drug can be used by itself, or in combination with IV sedation for extremely anxious or nervous patients. The drawback with oral sedation is that you can’t control the level of sedation achieved. As with IV sedation, you will need to have an escort that can drive you to and from the office.
Overall, our goal is to keep you as relaxed as possible, no matter what procedure that we are performing. Please feel comfortable to give us a call with any questions, and we can talk through potential options.