IV Sedation: What to Expect

How It Feels

A minute or so after the medicine starts, the tension drains away. People describe a warm, heavy, slightly floaty feeling, like the edge of sleep. You can still hear us and do what we ask, like turning your head or opening a bit wider, but you stop caring about the noises and the time.

Most patients remember very little afterwards. An hour in the chair can feel like ten minutes. It isn't a general anaesthetic, though: you keep breathing on your own and you're never knocked out.

What Sedation Is Good For

• Real fear of the dentist. Including people who've stayed away for years and now have a lot to catch up on.
• Long or surgical treatment. Full-arch implants, single implants, bone grafts or wisdom teeth, where staying still and relaxed for a couple of hours helps everyone.
• A strong gag reflex. When scans, impressions or work on back teeth keep setting it off.
• Doing a lot at once. Several treatments in one longer visit.

It's always used together with local anaesthetic, which does the numbing. We wouldn't suggest it for a dental examination, a scale and polish or a small filling. For those, going at your pace usually works better.

How It's Given

A very fine tube, called a cannula, goes into a vein on the back of your hand or inside your elbow. That small scratch is the only needle you'll notice. The medicine is given gradually until you're at the right level, and topped up if the treatment runs long.

Throughout, a trained team monitors your oxygen level, pulse and breathing, with a clip on your finger and a blood pressure cuff. Once you're settled, your mouth is numbed in the usual way, so you're pain-free as well as calm.

When We'd Look at Another Option

Sedation isn't right for everyone. Your assessment covers your health and any medicines you take. Pregnancy or breastfeeding, some lung, liver or heart conditions, some medicines, and not having an adult to take you home are the common reasons we'd plan differently. That might mean shorter visits with breaks, or treatment split across several days. Mention anything you're unsure about.

Getting Ready for the Day

• Food. Have a light meal a couple of hours before unless we tell you otherwise. An empty stomach makes some people feel faint.
• Medicines. Take your usual ones unless we've said not to.
• An escort. A responsible adult must bring you, stay nearby, and drive you home or share a taxi. Not the bus.
• Clothes. Something loose, with sleeves that roll up easily.
• Nails. Leave at least one fingertip free of varnish or gel for the oxygen clip.
• Alcohol. None the night before.

The 24 Hours Afterwards

You'll stay with us until you're steady on your feet, then go home with your escort and rest. The sedative clouds judgement for longer than you'd think, so for the next 24 hours you shouldn't:

• drive, cycle or use machinery
• drink alcohol
• be the only adult caring for young children
• sign contracts, send important emails or make big decisions

Most people feel normal the next day. You'll get written instructions and a number to ring.

Fees and Booking

IV sedation is £500 per session and £250 for each extra 30 minutes, added to the treatment fee. For implant patients, the sedation assessment is part of the free implant consultation.

See our sedation page for the treatments it's most often paired with. If you'd rather avoid sedation altogether, the dental anxiety guide has other ways to make visits easier.

Questions

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.