Sedation Dentistry

Is IV conscious sedation right for me?
Have you ever been fearful or nervous at the dentist? Do you frequently cancel your dental appointments? Do you put off treatment due to fear of the dentist? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, Dr. Henry and the staff at Beachside Dental are here to help. Dental anxiety is a very real condition affecting a significant portion of the population. At Beachside Dental, we cater to patients with all levels of dental anxiety from mild to severe. So no matter your level of anxiety, our team is here to serve you.

What is IV conscious sedation?
IV conscious sedation is a very safe and effective technique where sedative medicine is administered intravenously. Sensors are attached to monitor your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. IV conscious sedation is not a “pill”. Patients undergoing IV conscious sedation awaken after their procedure feeling relaxed and refreshed, often with little or no memory of the procedure and no pain.

How is IV conscious sedation different from the “pill?”
With IV conscious sedation, the sedative medicines are administered intravenously. This allows Dr. Henry to customize the dosage for each patient. With pill sedation, there is less dose-control. Also, the groggy after-effects of the pill can last, in some cases, up to 48 hours. With IV sedation, the medicines have a much shorter duration of activity, which means patients recover more quickly and feel less groggy.

What type of sedation training has Dr. Henry had?
Dr. Henry is a graduate of a year-long advanced general dentistry residency in the US Air Force. During that time, Dr. Henry received many hours of training in administering IV conscious sedation safely and effectively. Dr. Henry carries an advanced cardiac life support certification and meets all state requirements for the administration of IV conscious sedation. To keep his skills current, Dr. Henry also attends several continuing education courses specific to conscious sedation each year.

Dr Henry is a member of the Florida Dental Society for Anesthesiology. The FDSA website has even more information for patients who have questions about IV sedation. Click here to learn more.

New Patients Welcome!
Call our Vero Beach, FL dental office at 772.234.5353 to reserve your appointment and learn how we can help you maintain a bright, healthy smile for a lifetime. Our Vero Beach office is located in Indian River Shores County, south of John’s Island, and serves patients from Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and surrounding locations.