Dental sedation

Are you feeling nervous about going to the dentist? At North Street Dental, Dudley, we offer sedation therapy as an option to help ease anxious patients through their treatment plan.

We have a particular interest in dental phobia, and this technique can successfully treat even those most highly anxious patients.

What is dental sedation?

Intravenous or IV sedation is a technique used to remove anxiety during your dental visit. Often known as conscious sedation, those who undergo this type of therapy can be calm and relaxed within a few moments of us administering the medication. Being scared of the dentist is soothed away.

All the sedation treatments are carried out at our Dudley clinic. During the procedure/s our patients are carefully monitored, and because the drug induces temporary amnesia, they will probably not remember anything of the surgical experience.

How will IV sedation affect me?

You will become drowsy, and in most cases, you are not aware of having any treatment, but you are still able to co-operate with the dentist. The full sedative effect last for about an hour, allowing us plenty of time to complete the planned dental surgery.

Will I remember the treatment?

Generally, patients have no recollection from the point at which we administer the sedative to the time you get home. This feature of dental sedation makes it excellent for people who do not wish to remember unpleasant procedures.

What happens after the treatment session?

We keep you in our waiting room or the dental chair as the sedative starts to wear off. Generally, this takes between 15 to 30 minutes. We will only allow you to leave when we are happy that all is well. We will be on hand while you recover should you have any problems. Your care is our utmost priority, and we are well known throughout the West Midlands for our diligent aftercare.

Will I feel sick after IV sedation?

No. Unlike a general anaesthetic, there is usually no feeling of nausea afterwards. This is because we use very different drugs. We would expect, however, that you would experience an excellent night’s sleep following your dental sedation.

Can my ‘responsible adult’ leave the building during treatment?

Sorry, no. The responsible adult that accompanies you MUST arrive with you and remain in our waiting room for the entire treatment and recovery afterwards. They cannot leave the building. This is a legal requirement of the statutory conditions governing dental treatment under IV sedation. We will look after the ‘responsible adult’ make them a drink and find them somewhere comfortable with some good reading while they wait.