IV Sedation Dentistry in Chesapeake, VA
At our Chesapeake office on North Battlefield Boulevard, Dr. Kathy Delva provides IV sedation for patients who are anxious about dental care or need extensive treatment. She administers the sedation and performs the treatment herself, so one doctor manages your care from start to finish.
Many of our Chesapeake patients have put off care for years, often because of a bad experience, a strong gag reflex, or a schedule that makes repeated visits hard. With IV sedation, a treatment plan that might otherwise take several appointments can often be completed in one or two longer, calmer visits.
How IV Sedation Works
A small IV line is placed in your hand or arm, and calming medication is given in small amounts until you're deeply relaxed. This is IV moderate sedation, sometimes called "twilight sedation." You breathe on your own and can respond when spoken to, but most patients remember little of the appointment.
Because the medication goes directly into the bloodstream, Dr. Delva can deepen or lighten your sedation at any point during treatment. That is the main advantage over sedation you take by mouth.
IV Sedation vs. Oral Sedation
Both options are available at our Chesapeake office. The right choice depends on your anxiety level, your health history, and how long your treatment will take.
Is IV Sedation Right for You?
Adults in Chesapeake often ask about IV sedation when they:
- Feel intense anxiety about dental visits, or have avoided the dentist for years
- Have a gag reflex that makes impressions, X-rays, or treatment difficult
- Need several procedures, such as an extraction with implant placement or multiple crowns, and prefer fewer visits
- Have had trouble getting numb in the past
- Have work or family schedules that make repeated appointments hard to manage
Before recommending sedation, Dr. Delva reviews your medical history, medications, and any past reactions to sedation or anesthesia. Some heart, lung, and airway conditions call for a physician's clearance or a different plan. This review happens at your consultation, well before your treatment day.
If it has been a long time since your last visit, that's common among our sedation patients. Your consultation is about building a plan, and nobody here will judge you for the gap.
Treatment Under IV Sedation in Chesapeake
- Dental implants, including guided implant placement
- Extractions, including wisdom teeth
- Full-mouth rehabilitation for patients who need extensive care
- Multiple fillings, crowns, or root-level treatment combined into one visit
Your Sedation Visit, Step by Step
Consultation
Dr. Delva reviews your health history and treatment needs, recommends a sedation level, and gives you a written estimate and written preparation instructions.
Preparation
You'll typically avoid food and drink for a set number of hours beforehand. Take your regular medications only as instructed; don't stop any prescription on your own. Arrange for an adult to drive you and stay with you afterward, and wear a top with sleeves that roll up easily.
Treatment day
Your IV is placed, sedation is given gradually, and treatment begins once you're comfortable. Throughout the procedure, Dr. Delva and a trained sedation assistant monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, and breathing (capnography).
Going home
You'll rest in the office until you're ready to leave with your driver. Expect to feel drowsy for the rest of the day, and plan not to drive, work, or make important decisions until tomorrow. We review aftercare instructions with you and your driver before you leave, and we follow up after your visit.
Why Patients Choose Advanced Sedation Dentistry in Chesapeake
- Sedation-focused since 2009. Sedation is central to how this practice was built, not an occasional add-on.
- The same doctor sedates and treats. Dr. Delva holds a Virginia Board of Dentistry IV moderate conscious sedation permit and performs your treatment herself.
- Two offices, one team. If general anesthesia is the better fit, we schedule you at our Virginia Beach office with Dr. Futerman, with the same team handling your records and follow-up.
- Safety preparation. Our team trains with scenario-based emergency drills, staff maintain Basic Life Support certification, and Dr. Delva and Dr. Futerman hold advanced life support certifications.
Meet Your Sedation Dentist
Dr. Kathy Delva earned her dental degree from NYU College of Dentistry, completed a General Practice Residency at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, and completed IV sedation training through the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry. She also holds advanced certifications in dental implants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule a Sedation Consultation in Chesapeake
If anxiety or the size of your treatment plan has kept you from the dentist, start with a conversation. Dr. Delva will explain which sedation option fits your situation and how many visits your care is likely to take. Call (757) 769-7155 or request an appointment online.