Sedation dentistry is a common practice, designed to keep patients calm and more comfortable during difficult or lengthy dental procedures.
Before the treatment commences, your dentist or sedation expert will place a drip into a vein in your arm. This will induce a sense of relaxation and drowsiness, although you will remain awake during the procedure, capable of both communication and following instructions as needed. You will also be given a local anesthetic to ensure that you experience no pain from the treatment.
Throughout the procedure, monitoring devices will be keeping tabs on your vital signs. Even if the entire treatment lasts for one or two hours, it will likely feel like only a few minutes have passed, due to the effects of sedation. Plus, you will have minimal or no memory of the procedure, owing to the amnesic effects of the IV sedation.