What Are Options for an Anxious Patient?
So, another question I get is: how are we going to get you numbed up for the procedure?
For anxious patients, we have different ways of helping you feel comfortable. If you're really anxious, we offer IV sedation. With IV sedation, we'll start an IV and give you medication so that you're relaxed and comfortable during the procedure and won’t remember what was done.
While you're under IV sedation, you will still be responsive—you’ll be able to follow basic commands like opening and closing your mouth. However, even with IV sedation, we still administer local anesthetic, just like you would receive for a filling. We make sure to give you enough local anesthetic in all areas of your mouth to ensure you're comfortable.
If at any point you feel discomfort and let us know, we’ll administer a little more anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. With IV sedation, though, you likely won’t even remember what we did.