Sedation

Preoperative instructions for patients having treatment with IV sedation

Please arrive on time for your appointment.

You must come with a responsible adult who is physically fit and able to help you. They must:

• Stay with you during your appointment and wait in the waiting area.
• Help you get home safely after your treatment.
• Stay with you and keep an eye on you for the next 24 hours.

If you don’t bring an escort, your treatment with sedation will be cancelled.

Do Not:

• Bring children or anyone else who depends on you or your escort, as your escort needs to focus fully on your care.
• Use any recreational drugs, including cannabis, within 48 hours before your appointment.
• Drink alcohol within 24 hours before your appointment.

Do:

• Remove any nail polish, false nails, heavy makeup, or large jewellery. This helps the medical team monitor you during sedation.
• Eat a light snack or meal up to two hours before your visit, then do not eat anything until after the procedure (unless your dentist tells you otherwise).
• Tell the dentist if you are pregnant. You might need to reschedule your treatment. Let them know if you are breastfeeding as well.
• Bring a list of the medications you currently take. You should take your usual medications on the day unless the dentist told you otherwise during your consultation.
• Inform the dentist if there has been any change in your health since your last visit.
• Wear loose, comfy clothes and flat shoes. This makes it easier to check your blood pressure and keep you comfortable.

If you feel sick on the day of your appointment, please call the dental practice.

Make sure your escort also reads these instructions.

If you don’t follow these steps, your treatment may not go ahead as planned.

If you’re unsure about anything or have questions, please speak to Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

• This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Post-operative instructions for patients following treatment with IV sedation

For 24 hours after your procedure, you must not:

• Go back to work.
• Make serious or permanent decisions, sign legal papers, or carry out online tasks like shopping or banking that involve personal or financial details.
• Use social media.
• Be responsible for caring for other people.
• Use machinery or household appliances.
• Do any cooking or cleaning.
• Drive any vehicle or ride a bike.
• Drink alcohol or use recreational drugs.

You must:

• Keep taking your regular prescription medicines unless your doctor or dentist has told you not to. Another adult should help supervise this.

If you’re unsure about anything or need advice, please speak to Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Important information for adults accompanying a patient having IV sedation

You are accompanying someone who is having dental treatment with sedation.

Sedation helps patients feel more relaxed and less anxious during dental procedures. However, the medicine can leave them feeling confused or unsteady for a short time afterward.

Because of this, it is very important that a responsible adult stays with them for the rest of the day and keeps an eye on them for 24 hours after the treatment.

Please follow the instructions below and contact Dr Ismail if you have any concerns.

• You must come with the patient and stay in the waiting area for the whole appointment.
• Escorts are not allowed to leave the hospital while the patient is being treated.
• Do not bring children or anyone else who depends on you or the patient.

Please note: Some patients may take longer than others to recover, so it’s not always possible to give an exact time when they’ll be ready to leave. Most appointments last around 60-90 minutes.

For 24 Hours After the Appointment, the Patient Must Not:

• Go back to work.
• Make serious or permanent decisions, sign legal papers, or carry out online tasks like shopping or banking that involve personal or financial details.
• Use social media.
• Be responsible for caring for other people.
• Use machinery or household appliances.
• Do any cooking or cleaning.
• Drive any vehicle or ride a bike.
• Drink alcohol or use recreational drugs.

The Patient Should:

• Continue taking their regular medication unless told otherwise by their doctor or dentist.
• Have another adult help or supervise them with taking their medicine if needed.

If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please speak to Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Information for Adults Having IV Sedation

What Is Intravenous (IV) Sedation?

IV sedation is a method used to help you feel relaxed during dental treatment. A drug called midazolam is commonly used, and the amount is carefully chosen for each person. It’s given through a small tube called a cannula, which is placed into a vein — usually on the back of your hand or in your arm.

The cannula is put in using a needle, but the needle is removed right away, leaving just the soft tube in place. You might feel a small scratch when this happens. A numbing gel or liquid can be used beforehand to make it more comfortable.

Once the cannula is in, the sedation medicine is given without needing more injections. The cannula stays in place until Dr Ismail confirms you’ve recovered and is taken out before you go home.

Are There Any Risks?

Like with any medicine, IV sedation comes with some risks. These can include:

• Lower oxygen levels due to slower breathing. Your dentist may ask you to take deep breaths during the procedure. Your breathing and oxygen levels will be closely monitored throughout.
• Bruising where the cannula was placed. This may take a few days to fade.
• Rare risks include allergic reactions or vomiting during treatment.

If you have any concerns, Dr Ismail will discuss them with you before the procedure.

Let Dr Ismail know:

It’s important to share your full medical history, including any medicines you’re taking. Also, tell the dentist if you’ve had any problems with sedation or general anaesthetic in the past.

Before starting treatment, the dentist will ask for your consent, which means you understand the treatment plan and how sedation will be used.

What to Expect on the Day

• Your appointment will usually last around 60–90 minutes, but some people may take longer to recover before going home.
• The sedation medicine is given slowly, until you feel relaxed enough for the treatment to begin.
• IV sedation does not put you fully to sleep like general anaesthetic. You’ll be awake but calm, and most people don’t remember much of the procedure.
• After the procedure, you may feel unsteady and your thinking may be slower than usual for up to 24 hours. Some forgetfulness is normal.

Numbing the Treatment Area

Once you’re sedated, the dentist will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area where the work will be done.
A numbing gel may be applied first, and then any needed injections are given into that numbed area to reduce discomfort.

After the Procedure

• You’ll be taken to a recovery area and monitored by the team.
• The dentist will check that you are feeling well before you leave.
• Before you go home, you and the adult escorting you will be given important aftercare instructions.

If you have any questions or worries at any point, please ask Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Inhalation Sedation for Children Under 16 Years Old

What is Inhalation Sedation?

Inhalation sedation can help the child feel calmer and a little sleepy during dental treatment. It doesn’t put the child to sleep—they stay awake but may feel warm and relaxed. They might not remember much about the treatment afterwards.

This sedation is given by breathing a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nose mask. 

This helps the child feel relaxed.

Benefits and Risks of Inhalation Sedation

This sedation helps reduce fear and anxiety, making it easier for your child to cooperate during dental work. It’s especially useful for longer or more difficult treatments or if your child feels nervous.

The dental team is trained to give sedation safely and will watch your child closely. The gas leaves the body within 30 minutes after the treatment, so recovery is quick.

At the end, the child will breathe only oxygen to help stop feelings of nausea or headaches.

What to Expect

Usually, there are two or more visits. At the first visit, the dentist will ask about your child’s dental and health history and explain treatment options.

Sometimes your child may try the sedation at this visit. The actual dental treatment happens in later appointments.

If sedation is the chosen method, the dentist will confirm your child’s health details and may contact your child’s doctor if needed.

How to Prepare Your Child

Your child can eat normally but should have a light meal no less than two hours before the appointment.

Give any usual medicines as normal, and bring inhalers or other needed medications to the appointment.

A parent or guardian must sign a consent form before treatment. If you signed the form earlier but can’t come on treatment day, your child must be with a responsible adult over 18 years old.

Have your child wear loose, comfortable clothes and avoid bringing valuables.

If your child is sick with a cold, flu, blocked nose, or any contagious illness on the day, call the dentist to see if the appointment should be changed.

Avoid bringing other children with you.

If you or your teenage child might be pregnant, please tell the dentist before the appointment.

What Will Happen During the Sedation?

The child will breathe the nitrous oxide and oxygen through a nose mask. They might feel warm and have tingling fingers and toes.

Once relaxed, the dentist will use a numbing gel to prepare the area. If injections are needed, they will be given through this numbed spot to reduce pain.

After the treatment, the gas will be stopped and replaced by oxygen. The mask will be removed, and the child will sit up and rest for a few minutes until fully awake.

The child can leave the dental office once they are alert and not dizzy.

They should avoid active or organized sports for the rest of the day but can usually go back to school. 

Eating and drinking is fine after treatment, but be careful if the mouth is still numb to avoid biting lips, cheeks, or tongue. The dentist will explain what pain medicines your child can take while healing.

If you have any questions or worries, please ask Dr Ismail. If you are concerned after the treatment, please contact Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Inhalation Sedation Information for Adults

What is Inhalation Sedation?

Inhalation sedation means you breathe in a gas to help you relax. The gas is a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen, given through a small nosepiece that only covers your nose, not your mouth. This helps reduce anxiety during dental treatment.

What to Expect

Usually, you will have two visits. The first is an assessment where the dentist talks with you about your treatment and sedation. Sometimes, you might try the sedation at this visit. The dental treatment under sedation may happen at later visits. If it is an emergency, some treatment might be done with sedation at the first appointment.

It’s important to tell the dentist about your health history and any medicines you take.
If you think you might be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, please tell your dentist. You might need to reschedule your treatment.

The dentist will let you know if you should avoid eating or drinking before your appointment.

If you have questions or don’t understand something about the sedation, please ask your dentist.
While breathing the gas, you may feel warm, a little tingly, and light-headed. You will stay awake and be able to control reflexes like coughing.
After you feel relaxed from the gas, the dentist may use a numbing gel to prepare the treatment area. If you need an injection, it will be given through this numb spot to reduce discomfort.

After the Treatment

You probably won’t feel side effects like nausea or headache. At the end of the treatment, the dentist will give you some extra oxygen to help you wake up faster.

You will rest in the recovery area until the dentist or dental team checks you before you go home. 

Usually, you do not need someone to stay with you after this kind of sedation. You may be told not to drive, ride a bike, or use machines for up to two hours after your appointment.

If you have any questions, please ask Dr Ismail. If you feel worried after your treatment, please contact Dr Ismail.

Acknowledgements:

This information has been adapted from materials provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.