I.V. Conscious Sedation
I.V. Conscious sedation features provide  for more relaxed and comfortable visits. Patients are monitored by numerous means and by well trained staff. The goal is to provide a state of relaxation with emphasis on comfort. Most patients relate little or no memory of the visit. Tranquilizer medication may be prescribed so that a night's sleep can be obtained the eve prior to visits. Contact with a primary care MD may be warranted prior to sedation in cases where health concerns are noted.  Medications are titrated into an iv until a state of relaxation is achieved. Medications typically employed for iv conscious sedation are Versed (Midazolam), Demerol or Fentanyl (narcotic agents).  Narcotics are not always employed as each person is unique. Other agents that are sometimes employed are  Valium and Phenergan  As an added level of safety, reversal agents for Versed and Narcotics are available should circumstances dictate their use. Please note that iv conscious sedation is not sleep dentistry. Please see section on General Anesthesia and Deep Sedation. Emphasis is placed on safety first. Not all patients are candidates for sedation and risks and benefits of any procedure should be reviewed prior to care. Dr. Gioia and his office are inspected by the Florida State Board of Dentistry and comply with all regulatory requirements.

Oral Conscious Sedation:
Oral administration of tranquilizers as an adjunct to i.v. sedation.  In some cases, people respond so well to orally administered agents that i.v. sedation is not necessary. Agents used here are typically members of the "Valium family" and are referred to as benzodiazepines. Examples of these agents are Xanax, Valium and Halcion. In some instances, these agents, along with nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") may be employed. Please note that orally administered agents can not be titrated as with i.v. sedation so their onset is generally a longer duration process. Recovery may be longer with orally administered  agents.  These agents can not be titrated ("dialed in") as with i.v. conscious sedation so that depth of sedation is often difficult to predict. Still, a wide margin of safety abounds with these oral agents.

Anxiolysis
Anxiety reduction. , Typically this term is used in conjunction with oral sedation as described above.

Nitrous Oxide Analgesia
Commonly Known as "Laughing Gas", this very safe agent is used as an adjunct in dental sedation. At times it is used exclusively . One nice feature is it is relatively inexpensive to administer and  an escort is not needed. It is an excellent agent as it can be titrated and reversed quickly. (i.e. it wears off quickly) Most people with severe anxiety would not find the use of exclusive us of nitrous oxide sufficient for their comfort.