IV Sedation

A comfortable dental experience.

Intravenous Sedation (IV Sedation), also known as conscious sedation, sleep or twilight dentistry, involves the administration of sedative agents through a vein before dental work is performed to place you in a relaxed and sleepy state, though you may be fully responsive.

The sedation is administered properly and safely by a fully qualified, Australian registered anaesthetist, with its effects working in a matter of minutes as it goes straight through the bloodstream. IV Sedation supports a pain-free environment, so you won’t be able to feel any pain during treatment and often don’t remember your procedure occurring. Whilst sleepy but not unconscious, you will be able to breathe on your own, move and respond to verbal cues such as being asked to open your eyes.

IV Sedation is used at Harley Day Surgery and is effective for any dental procedure you may undergo and is suitable and safe for most people. It is helping patients overcome their anxiety, fear and discomfort of dental treatment.

What to Expect

Patient Suitability

IV Sedation is suitable for patients who:

  • have a strong gag reflex
  • require a procedure that is lengthy, extensive or complex (e.g. wisdom teeth removal, multiple root canals or implant placements)
  • suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia
  • have sensitive teeth or gums
  • have a mild learning or physical disability (e.g. cerebral palsy)

Side-Effects

IV Sedation will leave you feeling a little drowsy afterwards which is why you will need to arrange a responsible adult to take you home and remain with you overnight. You will not be able to drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after IV Sedation. Other possible side effects include headaches, dry mouth, amnesia and nausea.

Compared to General Anaesthesia

Compared to General Anaesthesia (GA), IV Sedation has a quicker recovery time and is considered safer as a moderate sedation form. Patients remain conscious under the effects of IV Sedation, enabling avoidance of the possible complications/risks that come with GA where the patient is made fully unconcious.

Harley Day Surgery only provides treatment under IV sedation onsite. For more complex procedures, a clinician may recommend treatment under GA at an external hospital.

Harley Day Surgery

Built to the latest day hospital standards and infection control guidelines, Harley Day Surgery is a state-of-the-art day surgery facility for patients that require dental treatment under conscious, intravenous sedation (IV Sedation).

At Harley Day Surgery, IV Sedation is carried out with our highly skilled and compassionate team of specialists, nurses and anaesthetists. They work in collaborative fashion to ensure you undergo care in a comfortable and pain-free environment.

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