Everything you wanted to know about intravenous sedation
What is intravenous sedation?
Intravenous sedation involves administering an injection of sedative drug in a vein, usually in your arm but sometimes in your hand. The onset of the drug is very quick and the feeling of relaxation takes over very quickly.
The effect of the drug is to make you feel sleepy any anxiety or fear will disappear.
What do I need to do before Intravenous sedation?
- It is important that you have a light meal.
- Do not consume any alcoholic drinks in the 24 hours prior to appointment.
- Please inform your dentist of any medication you are currently taking.
- Remember to take any medication we have prescribed for this appointment.
- Please arrange for an escort (an adult you trust) to pick you up from the surgery and to stay with you until you are fully awake and alert (several hours after being discharged from the surgery)
It is very important to arrange for an adult to collect you from the surgery after dental treatment. They will need to stay with you for at least seven hours after the treatment. Intravenous sedation cannot be administered if an escort has not been arranged.
What happens during sedation?
The dentist will explain the treatment and check that you understand what will happen. The dental nurse will attach a pulse oximeter to you finger. This measures the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of your blood. It is an easy, painless way of measuring how well oxygen is reaching parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as the arms and legs. You will be asked to lie back in the dental chair and have a small, plastic tube (cannula) placed in your arm or hand. The dentist will then give the sedative drug slowly through the cannula and encourage you to relax. The dental nurse will monitor your breathing throughout treatment.
What happens after the procedure?
At the end of treatment, the dentist will walk you to the recovery area. You will still feel sleepy and drowsy and will want to nap. For these reasons you will not be able to go home by public transport and your escort must either hire a cab or drive you back home from the surgery. Most people spend about 30 minutes in the recovery area.
What do I need to do after I go home?
- Do not perform any strenuous or hazardous activities and do not drive or operate machinery for the rest of the day.
- Avoid alcohol until the next day.
- Continue taking any medication that you would normally take daily (please ensure you have advised us regarding all medications taken)
- Do not eat heavy meals immediately. If you are hungry, eat something light e.g. liquid or toast.
- An Escort should stay with you for at least 7 hours after you have been discharged.
- If you have any unusual problems, please contact the surgery on 020 7584 5551 during surgery hours or Dr Haider Raza on 07917 565498 after hours.
How much does Intravenous sedation cost?
We charge between £350 to £590 for intravenous sedation depending on the length of the appointment. Dental treatment costs are additional. We determine the length of the appointment(s) needed at your initial dental examination. At the initial dental examination, we diagnose the problems and prepare a treatment plan for you. Depending on the treatment needed, we are able to give you an estimate of sedation costs as well as treatment costs. Many of our patients have said they prefer to know exactly how much sedation costs in order to budget for their treatment.
Is interest free finance available for dental treatment?
We offer 0% interest on all dental treatment over £1000. Payments can be made in 3 months to 18 months. The 0% interest free finance is available to all our patients. Application process is quick and simple and you get a decision within minutes. There are no catches, no arrangement fees, no additional charges etc. to pay – just monthly payments for a set amount over a period you choose.
Our dentists and nurses are fully trained and registered Society of Advancement in Anesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD): https://saad.org.uk/
