Intravenous sedation

What is Intravenous sedation?

Intravenous (IV) sedation is an effective and safe treatment involving a sedative being given just before dental treatment. IV sedation is ideal if you suffer from dental anxiety, as it places you in a dream like state, ensuring you are relaxed before a dental treatment begins. You will remain conscious throughout, enabling you to retain the ability to understand and respond to questions from your Dentist. However, most patients report that they remember very little, if anything, of their treatment.

When can IV sedation be used?

All dental treatments can be carried out under IV sedation. It is very predictable and can be tailored to suit your specific needs. It is also suitable for longer procedures such as complicated Crown and Bridge work or Implants. Before your sedation you will be contacted to discuss your medical history and to answer any questions you may have regarding the sedation.

Are there any side effects of IV sedation?

After IV sedation it is normal to feel drowsy. Most patients will have fully recovered from the effect of the sedative after six to eight hours; however, it can take up to 24 hours to completely clear your system. You are advised to avoid driving or using machinery etc for 24 hours after your procedure.

What happens after IV sedation?

Following treatment your reaction times will be slower than normal, whilst the sedation clears your system, and you may experience some temporary memory loss. You will therefore need to be escorted home by a responsible adult.

It is also advised that you do not make any important decisions or sign any important documents for 24 hours after IV sedation, to ensure you are fully conscious of your actions.

Regrettably, our NHS services ended on 31st October 2023. We explored all available options to carry on providing NHS services, but unfortunately these were exhausted, and we had no alternative but to hand back our contract and stop providing NHS services as of 31st October 2023. If you would like to find a new practice that accepts NHS patients, you can use the NHS find a dentist service.