Is general anesthesia the same as “sleep dentistry” or “sedation dentistry” terms that are currently popular? Sleep dentistry implies a patient is asleep. However, what really happens is a pill is given, perhaps in conjunction with “laughing gas” or nitrous oxide, and the patient is not asleep but doesn’t remember the dental work being done. The results of this form of sedation are unpredictable at best. With IV sedation, one can eliminate the likelihood of delayed or inadequate sedation that often results with an orally administered medication. General anesthesia is achieved by administering drugs through an intravenous (into the vein) route. By utilizing an IV, medications can be easily and quickly titrated to the desired effect. The depth of anesthesia can be calibrated to the appropriate levels based on the treatment being rendered. The onset of action & the duration of action are far more controlled by the practitioner when utilizing an intravenous route. This ensures a far superior degree of patient comfort and safety when compared with other means of sedation