Like you, we make your child’s safety and wellbeing a priority! That’s why we offer IV sedation for your child and why we’re taking the time to share the benefits of sedation dentistry with you.
What is IV Sedation and can it be used safely and effectively to benefit your child’s dental experience? IV sedation is the slow release of a light sedative into the bloodstream of a patient in order to calm anxiety during a procedure. Local anesthetics are used to numb the pain, while the sedative allows a patient to relax during the appointment.
IV sedation:
- allows the patient to remain awake but mostly unaware of the ins and outs of the procedure.
- is continuously monitored by trained professionals.
- can be adjusted throughout the procedure according to the patient’s needs and responses.
Most states require 40-60 hours of additional training and licensing for a dentist to practice IV sedation, which means that any office that offers IV sedation is staffed by experienced professionals. Complications to sedation dentistry are extremely rare, though occasionally patients with chronic respiratory difficulties are advised to consider precautions. It’s important for your dentist to check your child’s medical records in advance. That being said, IV sedation is a great option for children who have a hard time sitting still in the dentist chair, deal with a high level of anxiety, need a significant amount of dental work done, or have a low pain threshold.
Dr. Star Rogers, our anesthesiologist here at MH Ortho, received her bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Jacksonville University in Florida, completed her medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Tennessee, and received training in anesthesia and pain management at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas. She began her clinical practice in Atlanta as an independent contractor specializing in pediatric dental IV sedation. Dr. Rogers is the founder of All Star Anesthesia, which provides anesthesia for pediatric and adult patients in Atlanta and surrounding areas. We are pleased to partner with her in offering this service as another way of facilitating a pleasant experience for your child.