How is IV sedation different to general anaesthetic?

[Eva 1990]

Hello

I have two teeth that need to be root canal filled and capped. Its a long story but i neglected them for a while because I was so scared to go to the dentist and just kept putting off going to see the dentist and then eventually when they started to hurt, when I went to see a local dentist he said they will need to be root canal filled or removed. I do not wish to lose any of my teeth because I am scared eventually i will need to wear a plate like my nan. my local dentist says that its best to have these teeth done under iv sedation and he says he will have to refer me to a local hospital for this. i have had general anaesthetic in a hospital a few years ago and would like to know how iv sedation differs from general anaethetic? will i feel what is been done under iv sedation because if thats the case, i would like to have this done under general anaesthetic instead.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

During IV sedation, you are still ventilating yourself by breathing yourself but with GA, you are being ventilated by a machine. From this respect GA is deeper than IV sedation but also more risky. You will not feel any pain under IV sedation, because as well as sedation you will also have local anaesthesia and together that should ensure that you are comfortable. Also there is an amnesic effect with IV sedation and so you will not remember what happened afterwards.