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Piedmont Dental  ·  IV Sedation Dentistry

IV Sedation Dentistry

If fear has kept you out of the dental chair, IV sedation can get you back in it. A small IV delivers calming medication that lets you relax through your entire visit while Dr. Ben Areheart takes care of the work. Piedmont Dental is one of the few general practices in Rock Hill that offers it, and you'll know the full cost before anything is scheduled.

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A patient resting peacefully during sedation
Who it's for

When IV sedation makes sense

Some patients need it for one big procedure. Others need it just to walk through the door. Both reasons are normal here, and nobody at this office will make you explain yourself.

Anxiety that runs deep

If it's been years since your last appointment because the thought of one makes your chest tight, sedation takes the dread out of the equation. A lot of our sedation patients started exactly there.

A strong gag reflex

Some mouths simply will not tolerate instruments or X-ray sensors. Sedation quiets that reflex enough for treatment to happen.

Trouble getting numb

A few patients never feel fully numb from local anesthetic alone. Adding IV sedation turns those white-knuckle visits into calm ones.

Wisdom teeth removal

The most common procedure we pair with sedation. You stay relaxed while all four come out in one sitting.

About wisdom teeth removal →

Dental implant surgery

Implant placement is precise, unhurried work. Sedation keeps you still and comfortable while Dr. Areheart does it.

About dental implants →

Full-mouth restoration

Rebuilding a whole smile means long appointments. Sedation is what makes those hours feel like minutes.

About full restoration →
One long visit instead of four short ones.

Because you stay relaxed the whole time, Dr. Areheart can often combine work that would normally take several appointments into a single sedation visit.

Ask if that fits your case
What to expect

How an IV sedation visit works

It starts with a consult, not a commitment. Dr. Areheart goes over your medical history and current medications to confirm sedation is a safe fit for you. If it isn't, he'll say so plainly and talk through what else might help.

Before the appointment you'll get specific instructions. The big ones: nothing to eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours beforehand, and a responsible adult lined up to drive you both ways and stay with you afterward. Driving is off the table for 24 hours after sedation, no exceptions.

On the day

Once you're settled in the chair, we place a small IV line in your arm or hand. The medication takes effect within a few minutes. You stay conscious and can answer if Dr. Areheart asks you something, but you'll feel deeply, evenly calm.

The whole time, we monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level. When the work is done, you rest in the office until you're steady, then your driver takes you home. Most patients remember very little of the appointment, which for many of them is the entire point.

The cost question

What affects the cost of IV sedation

Sedation is priced alongside the dental work it goes with, and the biggest factor is time. A short extraction visit and a long combined restoration visit are very different appointments, so the sedation portion differs too.

What doesn't change: you get the complete number from us before anything is scheduled, never after. And if cost is the thing making you hesitate, tell us. We'd rather rework the plan with you than watch you put treatment off another year.

Will insurance help?

Sometimes, depending on your plan and the procedure the sedation supports. We file almost all insurances if your plan allows out of network providers. Our front desk will help with your specific situation.

Dr. Ben Areheart, sedation-trained dentist at Piedmont Dental in Rock Hill, SC
Meet the doctor

Dr. Ben Areheart, DMD

Sedation isn't something Dr. Areheart picked up from a weekend course. He trained in it during an advanced residency as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, after graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 2011. He's practiced at Piedmont Dental since 2014.

Patient reviews repeat the same two observations: he's gentle, and appointments go quicker than expected. For a nervous patient, that combination matters even before the sedation starts.

Piedmont is a family dentist first. Offering sedation is how we make sure fear never gets to decide who receives care.

MUSC College of Dental Medicine, 2011 U.S. Air Force AEGD residency At Piedmont since 2014
Common questions

IV sedation FAQs

Will I be awake during the procedure?

Yes. IV sedation is conscious sedation, not general anesthesia. You can respond if Dr. Areheart asks you something, but you'll feel deeply relaxed, and most patients remember very little of the appointment afterward.

How safe is IV sedation?

Very safe in trained hands. Dr. Areheart reviews your medical history and medications before approving sedation, and during treatment we continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level. If sedation isn't a good fit for your health, he will tell you at the consult.

How do I prepare for a sedation appointment?

You'll get exact instructions at your consult, but the basics are: nothing to eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours beforehand, and a responsible adult to drive you to and from our Rock Hill office and stay with you afterward.

When can I drive again?

Not for at least 24 hours after sedation. Most patients feel groggy for the rest of the day and close to themselves by the next morning. Plan on taking the day off.

Can I get sedation for something small, like a filling?

IV sedation is usually reserved for longer procedures, but severe anxiety is a real reason all on its own. Tell us what you're up against and Dr. Areheart will walk through the options with you, including gentler ones.

Nervous patients are welcome here

Call and tell the front desk you are interested in sedation. There's no lecture waiting for you here, no matter how long it's been since your last visit.

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1562 Constitution Blvd #101, Rock Hill, SC 29732 · Monday through Thursday, 8 to 5
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