Intravenous Sedation Dental Treatment in Wandsworth
What is intravenous (IV) sedation?
IV sedation is when a sedative is injected directly into a vein. If you are nervous about having dental treatment or you are having a procedure which may cause discomfort, intravenous (IV) sedation is an effective and safe treatment.
What are the benefits?
While under sedation, you will feel deeply relaxed, but you will still be able to understand and respond to requests from the dentist. You will be unaware of the operation and this form of treatment is ideal for patients who wish to avoid the noise and vibration of the drill.
What happens during IV sedation?
An extremely thin plastic tube will be put into a vein either in one of your arms or in the back of one of your hands. A drug (Midazolam) will then be injected which will quickly make you feel very sleepy and relaxed. Throughout the procedure you will have a pulse oximeter clipped to your finger to measure your pulse and oxygen levels. Your blood pressure will be checked before and after the procedure. As well as IV sedation, you will be given local anaesthetic. You will not be aware of being given the local anaesthetic because you will have it after the IV sedation. This involves an injection into the gum surrounding the area that you are having treated, and it is similar to those your dentist may have given to for fillings. The injection will take a couple of minutes to numb the area and it ensures that you will feel no pain during your treatment.
The length of time you will be sedated varies depending on the treatment that you are having.
What happens after sedation?
You will need to stay in recovery with your dentist until you are considered ready to leave the surgery. Recovery time varies from person to person. Until the following day after you have had IV sedation:
- Do not travel alone – travel home with your escort, by car if possible.
- Do not drive or ride a bicycle or a motorcycle.
- Do not use machinery.
- Do not use alcohol.
- Do not return to work until the next day
Why do I need IV sedation?
It is an ideal way of helping you to relax if you are nervous about dental treatment or you are having a procedure which may cause discomfort or distress. What are the benefits? While under sedation, you will feel deeply relaxed, but you will still be able to understand and respond to requests from the dentist. You will be unaware of the operation and this form of treatment is ideal for patients who wish to avoid the noise and vibration of the drill.
Are there any risks?
IV sedation is extremely safe when a specially trained dentist supervises it. IV sedation has four main effects:
- It will reduce your anxiety and make you feel relaxed.
- it will make you feel sleepy
- It will make you unaware of the procedure
- It will result in partial, or total loss of memory of the procedure.
Are there any Side effects?
As with any medication, the use of sedative anaesthetic agents can result in side effects. However, the incidence of side effects with sedation are very rare and include unintended loss of consciousness, drowsiness, dizziness, shivering, headaches, and post sedation nausea & vomiting.
Do I need to prepare for IV sedation?
Take your routine medicines at the usual times, your dentist will confirm if you can take your medication as normal. • Have only light meals and non – alcoholic drinks on the day of your appointment
Are there any alternatives?
- Local anaesthetic alone
- General anaesthetic
Neither of these alternatives may be suitable for you. Your dentist will discuss your options that will be best for you.
Do I need to bring a friend/family member to my appointment with me?
A physically able, responsible adult escort must accompany you to your appointment and escort you home after your treatment. Your escort should remain in the waiting room throughout treatment. Arrangements must be made to ensure that you are supervised 24 hours after the procedure. It is essential that your escort gives you full attention and therefore should not be responsible for children, elderly and/or dependent relatives during this period.
How much does sedation cost?
There is a set fee of £300 per session
Who can I contact with queries and concerns?
If you have any queries or concerns, please contact our reception team on
02088742067 – 02088719561
Who will I see for Sedation?
Dr Victoria Egemonye BDS, FDS RCS ENG GDC No: 78668.
Qualified as a dentist in 1991. Since then, she has undergone postgraduate training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in several hospitals in the U.K. She obtained her Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons England in 1998.
In 2005 Victoria obtained a Diploma in Dental Sedation with Merit from Kings College Hospital London. She is registered as a Specialist Oral Surgeon with the General Dental Council.
She works in different Dental Practices mainly as a Specialist Oral Surgeon, providing treatments such as wisdom teeth removal, complex or difficult extractions and other minor oral surgery procedures. She also provides dental treatment for nervous patients under IV sedation, who otherwise would not have had any dental treatments carried out, due to anxiety.
Initial Consultation
A full assessment and consent is a vital step in the sedation dentistry process. We want to involve you in decisions about your care and treatment. During your initial sedation consultation, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. Your dentist will take you through every step of your procedure to ensure that you fully understand how IV sedation is conducted and how it can help you.
If you decide to go ahead, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This states that you agree to have the treatment and you understand what it involves. If you would like more information about our consent process, please speak to your dentist.