Relaxed, comfortable dental care.

If you’re anxious or having a longer procedure, IV sedation helps you feel deeply relaxed. Many people remember very little afterwards.

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Monitored throughout
Oxygen given throughout
Several treatments can be combined

classics-dental-a-relaxed-patient-resting-under-iv-sedation-while-a-dentist

On this page

Your options

Before your appointment

Your safety

Risks

Questions

Your options

How IV sedation
compares

There are three main ways to keep you comfortable. We’ll recommend what suits your treatment and your health.

	Local anaesthetic only	IV sedation	General anaesthetic
Where	In the chair, at the clinic	In the chair, at the clinic	In hospital, by referral
How you’ll feel	Fully awake, with the area numb	Deeply relaxed and drowsy, but able to respond	Fully asleep
Memory of treatment	You’ll remember it	Many people remember very little	None
Getting home	You can usually drive yourself	You’ll need an adult to take you home and stay with you	Hospital recovery, then an adult escort
Often used for	Most everyday treatment	Anxious patients, implants, wisdom teeth and longer visits	Some complex cases or medical needs

Before your appointment

Please tell us about

These don’t always rule sedation out, but we need to know so we can plan safely.

Heart or lung conditions, including asthma
Sleep apnoea or snoring problems
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
All medications, including sleeping tablets and pain relief
Allergies or past reactions to sedation or anaesthetic
Recent illness, such as a cold or chest infection

Your safety

Looked after the
whole time

Dr Maharaj, who is trained in IV sedation, provides and oversees your sedation with a team member trained in sedation monitoring. Your treatment may be carried out by Dr Maharaj or Dr Sivakumar. You’re watched closely from start to finish.

Oxygen levels We monitor your oxygen levels and give you extra oxygen throughout.
Heart rate Your heart rate is tracked continuously.
Breathing A monitor tracks every breath you take.
Emergency equipment Oxygen and emergency equipment are always close at hand.

After your sedation

For the rest of the day, please don’t drive, drink alcohol, sign important documents, or look after others on your own. Your support person should stay with you.

Risks and limitations

What to consider

Every treatment has benefits and risks. These are the main ones to know about.

Bruising where the small needle was placed
Feeling drowsy and a little unsteady for the rest of the day
Nausea, which is uncommon
Rarely, breathing can slow, which is why you’re monitored continuously and we have oxygen and emergency medicines on hand

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. We’ll talk through the ones that apply to you before anything goes ahead, and you’re always welcome to get a second opinion.

Questions

Your questions, answered

Still wondering about something? Give us a call on 09 570 2823 or email reception@classicsdental.com, and we’ll get back to you.

Will I be asleep?

No. IV sedation isn’t a general anaesthetic. You’ll stay breathing on your own and be able to respond, but many people remember very little afterwards.

Is IV sedation safe?

With a careful assessment beforehand and monitoring throughout, it’s a well-established and safe technique. If it isn’t suitable for you, we’ll let you know.

Can I have several treatments at once?

Often, yes. Sedation can make it easier to complete treatment that would otherwise take several visits.