Although conscious sedation could be achieved using only pills, we have found over many years of practice that IV sedation works best because we can “titrate to effect” which is another way of saying we can safely sedate you to a level which is appropriate for the planned dental procedure and for your anxiety level. Another benefit is that we can keep you comfortable even after you’ve left the office and the local anesthesia has worn off. This is done through IV analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs administered during the procedure.
When a sedative is administered into the blood system during dental treatment, this is referred to as Intravenous Conscious Sedation (aka “IV sedation”).
As far as sutures are concerned, they may be used if the soft tissues (gums) need to be separated from the teeth for better access during removal or if any bone regeneration techniques are performed.