How to Prepare for Your IV Sedation Dentistry Appointment

These days, most dentists do offer some level of sedation in the office. However, a select few also offer full-on IV sedation dentistry, which is performed with the direct assistance of an anesthesiologist. If you suffer from dental phobia, IV sedation before your treatment can be one of the best options for you as a patient. Take a look at some of the things you may need to do in order to get prepared for your IV sedation dentistry appointment.

1. Arrange for someone to drive you to the appointment.
Even though you can freely drive to your dentist appointment on your own, it is best if you do have someone to take you home. You may feel a bit groggy after the treatment is finished and you are allowed to leave the office. Therefore, it is best if you do make arrangements for someone to bring you to your appointment and wait with you so they can also take you home.

2. Discuss what you should do about your everyday medications with your dentist.
Some medications can interact adversely with the medications used to sedate you. Therefore, it is critical that you discuss your full medication list with the dentist before the scheduled date of treatment, even if it is an over-the-counter medication, supplement, or herbal remedy. The dentist will let you know if there are certain medications you should skip on the day of your treatment.

3. Follow the dentist’s guidelines about food and water intake.
It is actually quite common to get instructions about food and water intake any time you will be treated with any level of anesthesia. The dentist will most likely tell you to not eat or drink anything for several hours before your scheduled appointment. If there are medications that you are still supposed to take, you can take them with a small sip of water.

Let’s Talk About IV Sedation Dentistry

Sometimes, IV sedation is necessary before dental treatment. However, modern-day technology allows for sedation to also be an option if you struggle with anxiety about treatment. If you would like to learn more about IV sedation dentistry, reach out to the office of Dr. Matt Henry in Jacksonville, FL.