Also known as conscious sedation, this treatment can help nervous patients overcome their fear. You’ll be awake but less alert, which means you’ll find it easier to relax.
We use IV conscious sedation to help you relax during your appointment. Your dentist will place a cannula in your hand or arm before the procedure begins. Once administered, you will immediately feel more relaxed; you may even feel sleepy. We will then complete your dental procedure. You will need someone with you to take you home and look after you that night. You might feel like sleeping when you get home. When you wake up, you might only remember small parts of the treatment.
No, with a general anaesthetic, you are asleep and won’t wake up until the anaesthetic wears off. With conscious sedation, you will feel drowsy and less alert. You might drift off to sleep, but you will be easily woken with a tap from the dentist. Patients often report that they don’t remember the procedure and that it went by very quickly.
You will need to complete a health questionnaire before we can administer this type of treatment. If you are in good health and don’t suffer from sleep apnoea, you are likely to be a good candidate for dental sedation. Please ask your dentist for more information.