IV Sedation

When a drug, usually of the anti-anxiety variety, is administered into the blood system during dental treatment, this is referred to as Intravenous Conscious Sedation (aka “IV sedation”). Conscious sedation is sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as “twilight sleep” or “sleep dentistry”. These terms are more descriptive of deep sedation. Deep sedation isn’t commonly used (in the UK at least), and is more closely related to general anesthesia (even though sedation occurs on a continuum). This page answers the most common questions regarding conscious IV sedation. Please be aware...