Maida Smiles is one of few clinics in London (and even the UK) to offer IV Intravenous sedation, which is typically only performed in hospitals. We’ve undertaken the relevant SAAD National Course to achieve the necessary accreditation and clinical skills required for the safe provision of conscious sedation at our dental practice.
Levels of sedation
How it works
Analgesics and sedation are provided through a cannula (small plastic tube) in a vein on the back of your hand or arm – and depending on the complexity of your procedure, the level of sedation may range from minimal to deep. The treatment works quickly, leaving patients feeling instantly relaxed.
What sedation is like
Patients given moderate or deep sedation might be given oxygen during the procedure as this level of sedation might slow their breathing.
Once our dental surgeons have completed the procedure, patients wake up fairly quickly once the medications are stopped.
If you’ve ever had general anaesthesia before, you’ll likely expect to wake up to side effects like drowsiness – and with IV sedation, it’s similar.
The effects will not be as heavy as a general anaesthetic, usually with no feeling of nausea as different drugs are being used – you will, on the contrary, have a very good night’s sleep. You’ll likely recover faster and be sent home in no time to rest (full effects last for an hour).
What you can do before sedation
Please ensure that you have a responsible adult who can take you home after the procedure – we would not recommend a taxi driver, for example, but someone who can ensure you get home comfortably.
Patients should also note that they should wear loose-fitting clothes, which will help us gain access to their upper arms so that we can monitor their blood pressure.