IV Sedation in Manchester, NH

If you’ve been terrified to even make the appointment, or you’ve put off care for years because of something that happened long ago, you’re in good company, because people who feel just like you come to Dr. Mann for the sedation he gives himself, and other dentists in the area send him their nervous patients for the same reason. Our team usually knows from your first phone call that you’re anxious, so they’ll take their time with you before Dr. Mann walks in, and when he does, he’ll simply sit down and ask why you’re here and how he might be able to help you. “You’ve made a big decision,” he tells patients, and “you’re brave to be here for the first time.”

On your sedation day, Dr. Mann places a small IV and gives you calming medicine through it, and within a few minutes the nerves you walked in with begin to soften into what he calls “really sleepy”: not a deep, deep sleep, but a drowsy calm where you breathe on your own, can answer if he asks you something, and simply don’t mind what’s happening. Your teeth are numbed as well, so nothing hurts, and because he is the one who placed the IV and holds the permit, the doctor caring for your teeth is the same one watching your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen the whole time, with a trained assistant beside him. Most people feel as if a few minutes passed, then find the work they’d been dreading is already done.

Taking care of your teeth at your own pace

Some patients want to get everything done at once, and some would rather build trust a little at a time — and with sedation, Dr. Mann can meet you wherever you are. When there’s a lot to do, he can take care of much of it in one sitting while you rest, and “people are truly amazed that they can have all this work done” in a single visit, he says. When a smaller visit fits your budget or your comfort better, that’s perfectly okay too, because every visit moves you forward — “I think it’s time to get you healthy,” as he tells patients.

What is IV sedation at the dentist?

IV sedation, sometimes called twilight sedation or conscious sedation, is calming medicine given through a vein so it works quickly and Dr. Mann can adjust it minute by minute during your care. Dentists describe sedation in levels: nitrous oxide is the lightest, oral sedation goes a step further, moderate IV sedation is the deep, drowsy calm Dr. Mann provides himself under his New Hampshire permit, and deep sedation or general anesthesia is reserved for long surgeries, when an anesthesia team of nurse anesthetists joins him in our Manchester office. He’ll help you understand which level fits the care you need and how nervous you feel.

How much does IV sedation cost in Manchester, NH?

The cost of IV sedation is quoted separately from your dental work and depends on how long your visit is and how much care we do while you rest, so Dr. Mann goes over your options and their pricing with you before anything is scheduled, whether you’d like to do a lot at once or a little at a time. Dental insurance rarely covers sedation for anxiety alone, so we’ll tell you what to expect up front. We offer financing through Cherry and CareCredit, and while our Manchester dental office is out of network, we file your claims so any reimbursement comes straight to you.

Will I remember my dental work?

Most people remember very little: Dr. Mann describes IV sedation as “really sleepy” — not a deep, deep sleep — “but enough that they don’t really remember it.” You may recall arriving and the IV going in, then the next clear memory is usually waking up with the work finished. You’ll feel groggy for a while afterward, which is completely normal, and by the time it wears off, the visit you’ve been dreading for so long is simply done.

How much dental work can be done under IV sedation?

Quite a lot, depending on your needs: in one sedated visit, Dr. Mann says, “I could do … 10 fillings or two crowns and eight fillings or four crowns.” He uses IV sedation for fillings, same-day crowns, bridges, extractions and single dental implants, and he’ll plan your visit so the care that matters most gets done while you rest comfortably. For a whole upper or lower set of implants, the day is longer and the sedation is deeper, so an anesthesia team comes to our office and handles it while he focuses on your surgery.

Is IV sedation safe?

IV sedation is a well-established way to help anxious patients through dental care, and the New Hampshire permit Dr. Mann holds for moderate IV sedation requires training, emergency equipment and monitoring, not just a willingness to give it. Before your sedation day he reviews your health history and every medication you take, because some conditions call for a lighter option or for the anesthesia team instead, and during your visit your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen are watched continuously until you’re ready to go home. He walks you through all of it ahead of time, including what to expect before and after, because, as he says, the main thing is to let patients know “it’s okay, it’s safe.”

How do I prepare for IV sedation, and what happens afterward?

We make the day as simple as we can: you’ll get clear instructions on when to stop eating and drinking beforehand and which of your usual medications to take, wear something comfortable with a sleeve that pushes up easily, and bring a trusted adult who will drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. Plan on resting that day with no driving, work or big decisions, and eat soft foods as your numbness fades. Dr. Mann often calls patients himself that evening or the next morning to see how they’re doing, and we’ll usually see you again within a few days to make sure everything feels comfortable and your teeth come together just right.

Who is IV sedation right for, and when is something else better?

IV sedation is a wonderful fit for adults with real dental fear, a strong gag reflex, trouble getting numb, or years of work they’d rather finish in a visit or two, and Dr. Mann will help you choose the level of comfort that serves you best: if you’d simply like to take the edge off, a little nitrous oxide may be all you need, oral sedation suits many people who want more calm without an IV, and for long full-mouth implant surgeries he brings Blue Sky Anesthesia, a team of nurse anesthetists, into our office to provide deeper sedation while he does the surgery. If your health history means IV sedation isn’t the right choice for you, he’ll tell you so and plan around it, and if a tooth turns out to need a root canal, he works with endodontists he trusts. He’ll walk you through each option and its cost, so the choice always feels like yours.

Frequently Asked Questions