Nervous about the dentist: How does dental sedation work and is it right for you?

If the thought of a dental appointment makes your stomach drop, you’re not alone. Being anxious about the dentist doesn’t mean you have to keep putting off the care you need. Dental sedation exists specifically for people in exactly this position. Here’s an honest look at what dental sedation is, what the options are, and how to know if it’s right for you.

What is dental sedation, and what isn’t it?

Dental sedation helps you feel calm and relaxed during treatment. It ranges from a light sense of ease to a much deeper state, where you have little to no memory of the appointment afterwards. It’s not the same as a general anaesthetic. With sedation, you typically stay conscious and responsive, just significantly more relaxed. You’ll usually be able to go home the same day.

What types of sedation are available?

At Jiva Dental, we tailor sedation to how anxious you are and what treatment you need:

• Hypnosis and relaxation techniques: gentle, non-invasive approaches that guide you into a calm state without medication, which we often pair with distraction such as your choice of music during treatment.
• IV sedation: a deeper level of sedation we give intravenously, allowing you to comfortably drift off with little to no memory of the procedure afterwards.
• Nasal spray or tablets: sedation we deliver as a fine nasal spray or in tablet form, for patients who’d prefer a smoother, more anxiety-free experience without IV sedation.
• Anti-anxiety medication: medication we give ahead of your appointment to help take the edge off your nerves before you even arrive.

What does dental sedation feel like?

Most patients describe a deep sense of calm or well-being coming over them when being sedated. Many say they remember very little, if anything, about the treatment itself afterwards. You won’t feel the sharp edges of anxiety that usually come with sitting in the chair. For many nervous patients, that alone makes a huge difference in deciding whether to get treatment done at all.

Who is dental sedation suitable for?

Sedation can help anyone from mildly nervous patients through to those with a severe dental phobia. Including people who’ve avoided the dentist for years because of a past bad experience. It’s worth discussing with your dentist if you have certain medical conditions; this can affect which sedation option is most suitable for you. If you’re not sure whether you are one of these patients, taking the Sedation Readiness Score is a useful starting point before your consultation.

What treatments can you have under sedation?

Sedation isn’t limited to one type of treatment. You can use it alongside routine check-ups, fillings, extractions, root canal treatment and more, essentially any procedure where anxiety is getting in the way of you receiving care. Your dentist will talk through what’s planned and which sedation option suits both the treatment and your level of anxiety.

What to expect on the day

Before your appointment, we’ll explain exactly what will happen, including what it will cost. On the day, you can expect a calm, unhurried approach, with distractions like music available if you’d rather not know the details as they happen.

Afterwards, recovery depends on which sedation option you had. IV sedation in particular means you’ll need someone to accompany you home and shouldn’t drive for the rest of the day. Lighter sedation options tend to wear off more quickly.

Sedation Dentistry in Kingston upon Thames

At Jiva Dental, Dr Bob Bhamra, Principal Dentist with over 25 years of experience and specialist training in relaxing sedation techniques, personally administers your sedation.

However long it’s been since your last visit, we pride ourselves in helping nervous patients get back into a dental chair with confidence.

Ready to find a calmer way forward? Get in touch with Jiva Dental in Kingston upon Thames to talk through your sedation options.