If you're a nervous patient, sedation might be a good option for you. It can help you feel more relaxed during your dental treatment.
It’s common to feel a little anxious about visiting the dentist. Fortunately, there are different ways that our dentists can make you feel more comfortable during treatment. One of the most useful ways to relax you during dental treatments is with sedation. Patients often choose sedation for very complex dental treatments or surgery, including wisdom tooth removal or dental implants.
Sedation involves the use of a sedative agent to help maintain a calm, restful state during treatment. It is a restful procedure, but you're still conscious and able to respond to voice prompts. However many patients have no recollection of the treatment they undergo.
Most sedation options are only available at our specialist practices, please check with your practice ahead of time on which sedation options they have available to you.
To help ensure a calm and comfortable experience, we offer three types of sedation, alongside the use of local anaesthetic for pain management.
Inhalation sedation involves breathing in nitrous oxide gas to decrease pain sensitivity. It’s commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ or ‘happy gas’ to reduce anxiety.
Patients are conscious and able to co-operate during the procedure
The effects wear off very quickly after treatment
There are rarely any after effects
Oral sedation is a sedative that is administered in a tablet or liquid form. It’s usually taken an hour before your appointment at the surgery.
Lasts 2 to 6 hours
Patients usually have little memory of the treatment once completed
For safety reasons, patients must have somebody collect them and take them home after their appointment
Intravenous, or IV sedation, involves a small injection of a sedative into your arm. Soon after the injection you will start to feel drowsy but very relaxed.
The level of sedation is more predictable than oral sedation
Patients will remain conscious throughout the treatment but have reduced anxiety and usually have little memory of their treatment
For safety reasons, patients must have someone to collect them and take them home after their appointment
Not all practices offer all types of sedation
Patients are monitored from the time of administration to the time of discharge.
Some dentists offer sedation for nervous or anxious patients. If you are feeling nervous about having dental treatment, speak to your dentist about the sedation options available to you.
Sedation involves using a sedative agent to place you into a calm, restful state. You will remain conscious while sedated and able to respond to voice prompts. Many patients have no recollection of their treatment once the sedative agent has worn off completely.
The cost will vary depending on the type of sedation used. Some sedation methods aren’t available at all practices so you will need to check with your dentist or oral surgeon before the procedure. At the consultation they will recommend the best option for you and also give you an indication of the cost.
You can relax! There’s no need to worry about feeling pain as local anaesthetic is used in conjunction with the sedation. The reason for being sedated during dental treatment is to help you relax and reduce anxiety. With most types of sedation, you will have little memory of the procedure.
The duration of dental sedation depends on the type used. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, wears off quickly, typically within minutes after the procedure is complete. Oral sedation options can last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the medication, whereas IV sedation can keep you relaxed for the entire duration of the procedure, with the effects gradually fading. Your dentist will discuss the best sedation option to suit your needs and explain how long the effects will last based on your specific treatment.
Sedation is safe when given by experienced dentists and complications are rare. However, as with any medical procedure patients with some existing medical conditions add a risk of complications. Your dentist will carefully review your medical history with you to make sure it is safe for you to be sedated. You should also talk to your dentist about any concerns you may have before being sedated.
It is not uncommon to experience some side effects with sedation until it wears off completely. With most sedation types you will usually feel relaxed but then drowsy afterward. You will often have little memory of the procedure, you may feel sluggish or be less coordinated and have slower reflexes. People sometimes have low blood pressure after being sedated and occasionally feel a bit sick or have a slight headache. These side effects usually wear off in a few hours.
You should rest after a sedation appointment and not return to work, drive a vehicle, or operate machinery. If you have concerns with any of the side effects of sedation we suggest talking to your dentist.
The safest sedation for dental work depends on your individual needs, medical history, and the complexity of the procedure. Local anaesthesia is considered the safest option as it numbs only the area being treated, with minimal risk or side effects.
For those who need additional relaxation, nitrous oxide is a safe and effective choice, providing a mild sedative effect that wears off quickly after the procedure.
For more extensive treatments, oral or IV sedation can be used under careful monitoring by a qualified dentist to ensure your safety. Your dentist will assess your situation and recommend the most appropriate and safest sedation method for you.