Types of dental sedation, explained simply

Sedation isn't the same as being put to sleep

Dental sedation is usually called conscious sedation. You stay awake enough to respond to the dentist, but you feel much more relaxed, and many people remember little of the treatment afterwards.

A general anaesthetic, where you're fully asleep, is different. In the UK it's only given in hospital, not in a dental practice.

IV (intravenous) sedation

A sedative is given through a thin tube in the back of your hand or arm. It works quickly and the dose can be adjusted during treatment, which is why it's the most common choice for adults with strong dental anxiety and for longer treatments.

You'll need an adult to take you home and stay with you, and you shouldn't drive, work machinery or sign anything important for the rest of the day. Your practice will give you its own instructions.

Inhalation sedation (gas and air)

You breathe a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nose mask. It's milder than IV, wears off within minutes of the mask coming off, and is often used for children and for people who are only a little anxious.

Not every practice offers it, so check before you book.

Oral sedation

A tablet taken before your appointment. It's simple, but how strongly it works varies from person to person, and you'll need someone to bring you and take you home.

What it costs in Sussex

Privately, sedation is usually charged by the hour on top of the treatment itself. Practices in our Sussex listings that publish a price mostly charge between about £315 and £450 an hour. See each practice's page for the exact figure and when we checked it.

On the NHS, sedation for very anxious patients is usually only available by referral from your dentist, often to a community dental service, and waiting lists can be long. Ask your dentist whether you'd qualify.