Intravenous Sedation for Nervous Dental Patients in Canterbury

Information for patients

This page aims to help you understand the treatment you are going to have and contains answers to many commonly asked questions. If you have any other questions or would like further explanation, please ask.

What is intravenous (IV) sedation?

IV sedation is when a sedative is given into a vein. If you are nervous about having dental treatment or you are having a procedure which may be more complex, intravenous (IV) sedation is an effective and safe treatment.

Why do I need IV sedation?

It is an ideal way of helping you to relax if you are nervous about dental treatment.

Some of the reasons we offer sedation are listed below:

  • For people who experience high levels of dental anxiety or fear at the thought of visiting the dentist.
  • For patients who have had bad past experiences leading them to delay treatment.
  • For patients who need extensive dental work and would like to minimise the amount of appointments or the stress involved.
  • For people who have a strong gag reflex.
  • For patients who worry about keeping your mouth open during treatment.
  • For patient who are needle-phobic or who are uncomfortable with the sounds and smells of a clinical setting.

 

What are the benefits?

While under IV sedation, you will feel deeply relaxed but you will still be able to understand and respond to requests from the dentist. You may be unaware of the operation and this form of treatment is ideal for patients who wish to avoid the noise and vibration of the drill. Additionally, sedation also gives you something called ‘anterograde amnesia,’ meaning it is unlikely you will have any recollection of your time spent in the dental chair.

Are there any risks?

IV sedation is safe when it is supervised or carried out by a specially trained dentist.

IV sedation has four main effects:

  • It will reduce your anxiety and make you feel relaxed.
  • It will make you feel sleepy.
  • It will make you less aware of the procedure.
  • It will result in partial – or total loss of memory of the procedure.

Do I need to prepare for IV sedation?

 

  • Take your routine medicines at the usual times, unless advised otherwise.
  • Have a light meal1-2 hours before you attend.
  • Do not take alcohol or recreational drugs including cannabis, 48 hours before your treatment.
  • Bring a responsible adult with you. This escort must be over the age of 18 and personally known to you. They must arrive and remain in our waiting room. They must be able to escort you home and care for you for the rest of the day.
  • Do not bring children or babies with you to your appointment. We will not undertake treatment if a child/baby comes with you or your escort.
  • Sedation is not possible if you are pregnant, so be sure to tell us.
  • Nursing mothers cannot breastfeed for 12 hours after sedation.
  • Car parking is available on our site avoiding a walk back to a nearby carpark.
  • It would be helpful to arrive with your escort promptly and report to the reception 10 minutes before your appointment.

Where will it be carried out?

The treatment will be carried out in a normal dental operating room.

In some cases your escort can come with you into the surgery, but they will be asked to return to the waiting room while you have your treatment.

What happens during IV sedation?

An extremely thin plastic tube will be put into a vein either in one of your arms or in the back of one of your hands. A drug will then be injected which will quickly make you feel very sleepy and relaxed.

Throughout the procedure you will have a monitor attached to your finger to measure your pulse and oxygen levels. Your blood pressure will be checked before and after the procedure. Sedation will make you feel relaxed and you may forget much of the visit.

You will also be given a local anaesthetic, after the sedation. This involves an injection into the gum surrounding the area that you are having treated and it is similar to those your dentist may have given to you for fillings. The injection will take a couple of minutes to numb the area and it ensures that you will feel no pain during your treatment. The length of time you will be sedated varies depending on the treatment you are having.

What happens after IV sedation?

You will need to stay in our recovery area until you are considered ready to leave the clinic. Recovery usually takes about an hour but can be longer. The effects of sedation can last for the remainder of the day, for this time rest at home.

Whilst you are recovering there are certain things you must not do and they are listed below:

  • Do not travel alone – travel home with your escort, by car if possible.
  • Do not drive or ride a bicycle or a motorcycle.
  • Do not use machinery.
  • Do not drink alcohol.
  • Do not return to work or sign legal documents or carry out any financial transactions.
  • Do not care for others.
  • Do not use social media.