IV Sedation Dentistry FAQs
IV Conscious Sedation Dentistry FAQs
Proven Way to Enhance Comfort, Prevent Pain & Anxiety
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Lu, DDS · IV sedation provider at Smiles @ Southcenter · Last reviewed October 2026
It is estimated that 15% of the population avoids dental care due to acute anxiety and as much as 60% of the population admits to some level of dental fear and apprehension. Today, IV-conscious dentistry allows a way to provide dental care for patients who experience dental anxiety and apprehension.
We believe that fear should not stand between you and a stunning smile which is why we specialize in IV conscious sedation dentistry. Forget about your dental phobias with IV sedation dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry,” sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. In most cases, patients are usually awake during treatment with the exception of those under general anesthesia.
What are the Benefits of Sedation Dentistry?
There are several benefits to sedation dentistry, including:
- No memory of undergoing the procedure
- No sense of time while under sedation
- No sense of smell or sound
- No fear or anxiety during treatment
Will I Feel Any Pain During IV Sedation?
Most patients feel no discomfort during their dental treatment and feel surprisingly good afterward.
What are the Types of Sedation Dentistry?
The following are the types of sedation used in dentistry:
- Inhaled minimal sedation: Patients breathe nitrous oxide (laughing gas) combined with oxygen through a mask to help them relax. Your dentist controls the amount of sedation you receive. The gas wears off quickly and it is the only form of sedation where patients can drive themselves home following the procedure.
- Oral sedation: This type of sedation can range from minimal to moderate and is given via a pill. Taken about 1 hour prior to treatment, the pill makes you drowsy although you’ll still be awake. With a higher dose some patients become groggy enough to fall asleep during treatment but can usually be awakened with a gentle shake.
- IV moderate sedation: The sedative is administered through a vein so it goes to work quickly. This method of sedation allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation. With this method you are in a semi-awake state and will likely have little to no memory of the treatment.
IV Conscious Sedation vs General Anesthesia
With IV conscious sedation you are awake during your dental treatment but will feel no pain. During general anesthesia, you are completely asleep and cannot be aroused – not even by painful stimulation. Plus, general anesthesia requires additional support for breathing and can alter heart rate and other life-support functions which means an anesthesiologist is required to monitor all vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse.
IV sedation puts you in a much safer and more comfortable “semi-awake” state of reduced anxiety. After the procedure, you will most likely have little or no memory of the treatment because of the amnesic effect of the medications used to provide the sedation. While under sedation you are able to respond to verbal commands or to a light physical touch. With IV conscious sedation you need no medical assistance to maintain adequate breathing and heart function.
Can Any Dentist Perform Sedation?
While most dentists can administer minimal sedation such as nitrous oxide or oral sedation, only a small percentage of dentists can offer more complex techniques such as IV conscious sedation.
Some dentists bring in a dentist anesthesiologist for sedation cases. At Smiles @ Southcenter, IV conscious sedation is provided in-house by Dr. Jason Lu, DDS, who holds a Washington State moderate sedation permit and completed a hospital residency focused on sedation and medically complex patients at Swedish in Seattle, where he continues to work part-time as an attending dentist. The practice has offered IV sedation for more than 10 years, and every sedation appointment includes two sedation-trained assistants and continuous monitoring of heart rhythm, oxygen, exhaled carbon dioxide, and blood pressure.
A dentist who is IV certified and licensed to administer IV sedation has received additional specialty training and has been legally certified by the state’s Board of Dental Examiners to deliver medical drugs that alter a patient’s consciousness for a comfortable, pain-free treatment.
Why Should I Consider Sedation?
Many patients find that sedation helps them to have a more positive experience at the dentist, even if they do not suffer from dental anxiety. If you gag easily or if your teeth are extremely sensitive, being sedated may make it easier for you to be treated. Some patients may also like to receive a sedative if they are having multiple cavities filled or are undergoing a long procedure such as deep gum cleaning.
Is Sedation Dentistry Only Good for Specific Procedures?
IV sedation is available for virtually any procedure you might need to undergo at your dentist’s office, from oral surgery to routine examinations and cleanings. Sedation is safe for most patients, but your dentist will check your medical history and any medications you’re currently taking to make sure that it’s the right choice for you.
Is Sedation Only Helpful if You Suffer from Dental Anxiety?
Even if you don’t suffer from any anxiety about the dentist’s office, sedation can still be valuable to you. If you have a strong gag reflex, sedation can help ensure that you stay comfortable while you are being treated by your dentist. Sedation can also be helpful for restless patients who need to have a lot of dental work done in a single visit. Sedation can even be used in combination with anesthesia to ensure that you remain totally calm and free of pain during any procedure.
Will I Remember My Dental Treatment?
Most patients have little to no memory of their dental treatment. This is one of the reasons that patients love IV sedation dentistry.
Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?
Yes – IV sedation is considered safe for most patients when they are screened carefully beforehand and monitored continuously throughout. At Smiles @ Southcenter, every sedation appointment begins earlier than the chair: a consultation reviews your medical history, every medication and supplement you take, allergies, and any past reaction to sedation or anesthesia.
During treatment, three trained people are in the room — the sedation dentist and two sedation-trained assistants, one of whom does nothing but watch your vital signs. Four are tracked continuously, as Washington law requires: heart rhythm (EKG), blood oxygen, exhaled carbon dioxide, and blood pressure. Emergency equipment is staged beside the chair for every case, and the team practices emergency drills regularly.
Patients with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or COPD are assessed individually rather than turned away automatically — the decision is made at an in-person consultation, not from a diagnosis alone.
Will I Feel Any Pain During IV Sedation?
No – most patients feel no pain during IV sedation dentistry, and many remember little or nothing of the appointment afterward. Local anesthetic still numbs the treatment area, exactly as it would at a regular visit. What IV sedation adds is relief from everything numbing cannot touch: the anxiety, the pressure, the vibration, and the sound of instruments.
The most uncomfortable moment of the entire appointment is usually the brief pinch when the IV is placed – and at Smiles @ Southcenter, even that is softened, because every IV sedation begins with nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which relaxes the patient before the IV goes in. From there, patients describe a slow drifting sensation, heavy eyelids, and then – for most – the next clear memory is being told the procedure is already over.
Will I be Groggy After My Treatment?
Following treatment, you will feel fine. But for your safety, we do require that you have a family member or friend drive you home.
Have More Questions?
If you have additional questions about IV conscious sedation give our office a call today at 206-575-9150. We are happy to answer your questions and to help you determine if IV conscious sedation dentistry is right for you.
Looking for IV Sedation Dentistry Near Tukwila
Smiles @ Southcenter provides IV sedation dentistry at its Tukwila office near Westfield Southcenter, with easy access from I-5 and I-405 — serving patients from Tukwila, Renton, SeaTac, Burien, Kent, and South Seattle. The practice has served the community for more than 40 years and has offered IV sedation, on flexible scheduling, for more than 10 years.
Treatments that would normally take several appointments — fillings, crowns, extractions, wisdom teeth, and implant placement — can often be completed in one comfortable sedation visit.
Learn more about IV sedation at Smiles @ Southcenter, or call 206-575-9150 to ask about a sedation consultation. In-network with Delta Dental; an in-house dental membership plan is available for everyone else.
Smiles @ Southcenter
Address
15425 53rd Ave S
Tukwila, WA 98188
Phone
206-575-9150Hours of Operation
Monday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM