For a lot of people, the hardest part of dental work is not the treatment itself, it is the fear of sitting in the chair. If that sounds like you, sedation can completely change the experience. In a recent video, Dr. Kendall explained the two main types we use, IV sedation and oral sedation, how they differ, and how to know which one is right for you. Understanding both is the first step to getting the sedation dentistry that fits you.
The short version: both options help you relax, but they are not equal when it comes to how deeply and how reliably they work. For a truly fearful patient facing something like a full arch of implants, that difference matters a great deal.
Watch: All About IV and Oral Sedation
What Is IV Sedation?
With IV sedation, we place an IV and deliver sedation medication directly into your bloodstream. That lets us get you comfortable quickly and keep you there. For most patients it feels like drifting off to sleep, you rest through the entire procedure, and you wake up with everything already done. That is exactly what you want when you are having a full arch of dental implants or several tooth extractions completed in one visit.
People can go to sleep, they wake up, and everything's done. That's ultimately what you want when you're having a full arch of implants or extractions done.
The Difference a Dedicated CRNA Makes
For many years, Dr. Kendall administered sedation himself, and he did it well. About two and a half years ago, the practice brought on a full-time Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Waylon Williams. It was a game changer. Now Waylon focuses entirely on your sedation while Dr. Kendall focuses entirely on your surgery, so nothing competes for the surgeon's attention.
Safety is the biggest reason this matters. A dedicated CRNA does nothing but watch over you, monitoring your airway and checking your blood pressure every five minutes throughout the procedure. Even a skilled dentist providing his own sedation is splitting focus between the sedation and the surgery. Having a provider whose only job is keeping you safe and comfortable is, in Dr. Kendall's words, just a very safe way to go. We go deeper on this in why an in-house CRNA makes sedation dentistry safer.
What Is Oral Sedation?
Oral sedation uses prescription medication in pill form, taken before and around your appointment, to calm your nerves. It can take the edge off and make a visit far more relaxed. The trade-off is predictability. With pills, the exact level of sedation you will reach is harder to control. You may end up pleasantly relaxed, or you may not feel as deeply sedated as you hoped, and there is no easy way to fine-tune it once it has taken effect.
IV vs. Oral Sedation: Which Is Right for You?
Dr. Kendall's guidance comes down to one question: how fearful are you?
- If you are genuinely afraid of the dentist, IV sedation with a dedicated CRNA is the safer choice. It reliably delivers the deep, full sedation you are hoping for, so you are not left wondering whether the medication will be enough.
- If you are not especially fearful and simply want a calmer, more comfortable experience, oral sedation can be a great and convenient option.
As Dr. Kendall put it, if he were a fearful patient, he would be hesitant to rely on oral sedation, because the odds of getting exactly what you want, full sedation, can be low when everything depends on a pill. Knowing for certain that you will be comfortable removes the biggest reason people cancel or avoid the care they need.
A Comfortable Path for Anxious Patients
The whole point of offering both options, backed by a dedicated CRNA, is that no one should have to skip treatment out of fear. Whether you need a single procedure or a full-mouth restoration, we can match the level of sedation to your needs and your comfort. If dental anxiety has kept you away, you are far from alone, and there is a clear path forward. See how others have gotten there in conquering dental anxiety with sedation dentistry.
Rest Easy Through Treatment in Longview, Tyler, or Shreveport
You do not have to choose between getting the care you need and feeling comfortable. Our team at Texas Sedation Dental & Implant Center in Longview, Tyler, and Shreveport offers both IV and oral sedation, with a full-time Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for those who want the deepest, safest rest. Schedule your complimentary Ultimate Smile Assessment today and we will talk through the sedation option that fits you best.
