Heritage Pointe Dental offers IV sedation dentistry for patients in Calgary who need extra support to get through dental treatment comfortably — whether that’s due to dental anxiety, a lengthy procedure, or a strong gag reflex that makes routine treatment difficult. Sedation dentistry allows you to stay relaxed throughout your appointment while our team completes the care you need.
If dental anxiety or a difficult procedure has been keeping you from the care you need, we’d love to help. Contact our office, and we can book you in for a consultation!
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of medication to help patients relax during dental treatment. It ranges from minimal sedation, where you’re awake but calm, to deeper levels where you may not remember much of the procedure afterward. The right level of sedation depends on the treatment being done, your medical history, and your level of anxiety about dental visits.
IV sedation dentistry delivers sedative medication directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line. Because the medication is administered this way, it takes effect quickly and can be adjusted throughout the appointment, giving your dentist more precise control over your comfort level compared to sedation taken by mouth.
Most patients who receive IV sedation are in a deeply relaxed, drowsy state during treatment. Some patients remain responsive to instructions, while others drift in and out of light sleep. Many people have little to no memory of the procedure afterward, which is one of the main reasons patients with significant dental anxiety choose this option.
IV sedation in a dental setting is different from general anesthesia. You’re not fully unconscious, and your breathing and other vital signs continue on their own, but your dentist and team monitor you closely throughout the appointment.
Sedation dentistry may be worth considering if you:
Before recommending IV sedation, your dentist will review your medical history, including any medications you take and any conditions that could affect how you respond to sedation. This helps determine whether IV sedation is appropriate for you and what precautions, if any, are needed.
Because sedation affects your alertness and coordination, patients receiving IV sedation need to arrange for someone to drive them home after the appointment. You won’t be able to drive yourself. Your dental team will also give you instructions to follow in the days or hours leading up to your appointment, which commonly include guidance around eating or drinking beforehand.
Once you arrive, an IV line is placed, usually in your hand or arm, and your dentist begins administering the sedative. Your heart rate, breathing, and other vital signs are monitored throughout the procedure. Because the medication is delivered directly into the bloodstream, your dentist can adjust your sedation level as needed during treatment, which is one of the advantages of IV sedation over oral sedation methods.
Many patients describe the experience as feeling like time passed very quickly, with little or no memory of the procedure itself by the time it’s over.
The effects of IV sedation take time to fully wear off, so most patients need to rest for the remainder of the day after their appointment. You’ll need someone to drive you home, and it’s a good idea to have someone stay with you for a few hours afterward, since your judgment and coordination may still be affected even once you feel more alert.
Your dental team will go over specific aftercare instructions with you before you leave, based on the treatment you had done and the level of sedation used.
Heritage Pointe Dental is located at Unit 400, 412 Pine Creek Road in Heritage Pointe, serving patients throughout South Calgary, including Walden, Legacy, Cranston, Seton, Auburn Bay, Mahogany, De Winton, and Okotoks. If dental anxiety, a difficult gag reflex, or an upcoming procedure has kept you from getting the dental care you need, IV sedation dentistry may be worth discussing with our team.
IV sedation delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, so it takes effect faster and can be adjusted throughout the appointment. Oral sedation, by comparison, is taken by mouth beforehand and is generally less precise to control once administered.
No. With IV sedation, you’re deeply relaxed but not fully unconscious, and you continue breathing on your own. General anesthesia puts you into a fully unconscious state and is typically reserved for more complex surgical situations.
You may remain responsive to instructions during the appointment, but many patients feel drowsy and have little to no memory of the procedure afterward.
Yes. Sedation affects your coordination and judgment for hours after your appointment, so you’ll need someone to drive you home and ideally stay with you for a while afterward.
IV sedation is a well-established option in dentistry, and your dental team monitors your vital signs throughout the appointment. Your dentist will review your medical history beforehand to determine whether it’s a safe option for you.
IV sedation is often used for longer or more involved procedures, such as wisdom teeth extraction or dental implant placement, as well as for patients with significant dental anxiety undergoing routine treatment.
Your dentist will review your medical history and discuss the treatment you need to determine whether IV sedation is a good fit. This is typically discussed during a consultation before your procedure.
Most patients need to rest for the remainder of the day after their appointment, though recovery can vary depending on the individual and the level of sedation used.
If dental anxiety or a difficult procedure has kept you from getting the care you need, talk to our team about whether IV sedation dentistry is right for you. Call 403-873-2289 or request an appointment online. We’re happy to help you find a time that works for you.
Our dental office is conveniently situated in the beautiful Heritage Pointe community of south Calgary, providing easy access for residents of nearby areas like Walden, Legacy, Cranston, Seton, Auburn Bay, Mahogany, as well as De Winton and Okotoks. You’ll find us centrally located at the corner of Pine Creek Road and Heritage Lake Drive, right next door to Pizza on Pointe and just a 5-minute drive from the Heritage Pointe Golf Club.
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