Conscious sedation is a powerful, predictable and safe alternative to general anaesthesia for most dental procedures. By managing anxiety effectively, this progressive approach makes difficult or prolonged treatment possible and comfortable for even the most nervous patients.

Most commonly, adults receive sedation by intravenous injection (IV sedation). It’s also possible for sedatives to be administered orally, or through a mask, and your dental surgeon will advise if these are appropriate. Conscious sedation makes you feel sleepy and relaxed, but you can still hear and speak. Most patients remember little or nothing of their procedure, but it doesn’t affect your memory from before the sedative was given.

Sedation at our Face Teeth Smile dentist in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, is calculated and administered expertly. The drug is fully effective for the duration of your treatment and you’ll feel drowsy for up to 8 hours afterwards. Having been sedated and undergone your procedure, you’ll be required to relax in the chill-out room at the practice until your dentist is happy for you to leave. You’ll need someone to take you home, as your judgement may be affected for up to 24 hours. Some patients sleep very deeply the night after sedation dentistry and it’s possible you’ll still feel some drowsiness the next day.