What is IV sedation and how does it work? Is it really necessary? We've got the answers...
We use Midazolam and Fentanyl (aka Verced) to put patients in a "twilight state" during surgery. It is deeper than oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide/'laughing gas' and safer than general anesthesia because patients are still breathing on their own. We continuously monitor vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, oxygen) throughout the entire process. Most patients sleep and even snore during the surgery and do not have any recollection of it afterward. Patients are awake and aware when they leave our office and the entire visit normally lasts about 1.5 hours.
Before a patient is sedated, we ask that they do not eat for six hours prior to surgery; they can have clear liquids up to two hours before. An escort is required to sign a release stating that they will drive the patient home and monitor them for about six hours afterward. For more pre and post operative instructions regarding IV sedation, follow the link below to our website's 'Patient Forms' page.
http://www.nothingbutwisdomteeth.com/patients.html
