Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs
Should You Consider Dental IV Sedation?
Joe Lawrence
If you are like many people, you are not keen on going to the dentist. Many people have a major phobia of dental procedures. For that reason, many worrisome dental patients opt for dental IV sedation. This process helps to ease the anxiety many feel when they go to the dentist. Here are some things you need to know about dental sedation:
What Does Dental IV Sedation Consist Of?
Dental IV sedation is the administration of anxiety-reducing medication through the blood. This process occurs during dental treatment. It is often not full anesthesia but makes the patient drowsy and relaxed. You can still answer questions, but you will likely not remember much about your treatment.
How Does Dental IV Sedation Work?
Before your dental procedure, you will receive an IV through a small needle inserted into a vein. If you fear needles, the dentist can numb the area prior to placing the IV. The needle will be connected to the sedative medication. The medication is then pumped from the bag, through a tube, and into your bloodstream through the needle. During the sedation, your vital signs will be monitored. If you exhibit any issues with the medication, it will be removed right away. You will feel sleepy after the procedure and will need someone with you to drive you home. Once you get home, you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day.
For some, only a small amount of sedation medication is necessary. The needle can be removed as the dentist finishes your treatment. Other people must be sedated for the entirety of the treatment. You can discuss the level needed for you prior to the treatment.
Can You Benefit from Dental IV Sedation?
There are several benefits of dental IV sedation. The sedation through an IV is much faster acting than medication you take orally. You can still breathe on your own as you will not be placed under full anesthesia. If you need more than one procedure done, doing so under IV sedation can make the entire process more tolerable. You also will end up going to the dentist less frequently if you take care of several issues during one visit.
If you think you might want to be sedated for your treatment, be sure to discuss the idea with your dentist. Not every dentist offers this, so be sure to visit a practice that has training with IV sedation dentistry.
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Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.