Treatment at a Glance
Treatment Type
Anaesthetic
Pre-Treatment Care
Recovery Time
What is a Intravenous Sedation?
Intravenous sedation is a sedative medicine that is sometimes given when having dental treatment. It is administered by an injection into a vein, making you drowsy and help reduce anxiety prior to treatment being carried out.
Intravenous sedation is usually given by using a single drug called Midazolam, the dosage of which is chosen for you individually. This is administered by injection and is usually into a vein in the back of your hand or in your arm through a cannula, a thin flexible tube.
Once the cannula is in the vein, the sedation drug can be given without using any more needles. The cannula remains in until the clinician has checked that you have recovered from the sedation but it will be removed before you go home.
Intravenous Sedation Key Details
Your First Appointment
The first appointment will normally include an assessment, where your dental treatment under sedation will be planned and discussed with you. Our experienced sedation team will discuss any concerns that you may have prior to the procedure taking place. It is important that you let the clinician know your medical history, including any medicines that you are taking. It is also important to mention if you have ever had any problems with having either sedation or a general anaesthetic in the past.
Receiving Intravenous Sedation & Treatment
Before your dental treatment begins you will be given your agreed dosage of intravenous sedation. You will remain conscious during this kind of sedation. This will be carried out under the care of our experienced sedation team. Working together in small teams, they will watch you closely using appropriate monitoring equipment.
Once you are sedated, the clinician can use local analgesia, which is a pain relief that numbs the site of the dental treatment. You will be observed closely by the team until you have made a full recovery from the sedation and will be handed over to the care of your appointed escort.
Risks Involved
As with the administration of any medicines, there are risks associated with intravenous sedation. Our team will be on-hand should any risks arise. These risks include:
A reduction of oxygen in the blood stream due to poor breathing during sedation. You may be asked by your sedation team to take deep breaths to correct this. Your breathing and oxygen levels will be monitored throughout the procedure.
Bruising at the site of the cannula. This may take several days to fade completely.
Allergic reactions to the sedative drugs can arise, although this is very rare.
After the Sedation
You may experience a temporary loss of memory during the time that you are sedated, with patients having no memory of the procedure at all. You may feel unsteady on your feet for some hours after the procedure and your ability to think clearly and make judgements may be affected for the next 24 hours.
You should not drive a car, ride a bicycle or operate machinery for 24 hours after being treated under sedation. You should also not take responsibility for the care of others, use sharp implements or cook.
Before you are discharged, the sedation team will give you and the adult accompanying you some important information about your care. The clinician will also provide details of pain relief as well as how and when to take other prescription medicines.
You will also be given a telephone number of who to contact if you have any problems as a result of your treatment.
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Contact Information
5 Maidenplain Place, Aberuthven, Perthshire, PH3 1EL
8:30am to 5pm | Mon – Fri
01764 66 44 46