Dental Sedation

At Wellington Dental Practice, we only offer sedation with Mr Andrew Armstrong for oral surgery, dental implants and difficult extractions such as impacted wisdom teeth. IV sedation is not available for any routine dental procedures such as fillings or routine extractions.

The sedation process involves a small tube in your arm or hand which gently releases the sedative, allowing you to relax in the surgery. The sedative does not ‘knock you out’, rather it calms your fears and relaxes your mind. You do not lose consciousness, but are awake and responsive, and you will always have a friend or family member with you at all times throughout your treatment, so you can rest assured.

Many patients are fine with sedation, however not everyone is suitable. You will need an assessment with Mr Armstrong initially to decide if general practice is an appropriate location for your sedation. If not, we can refer you to a local provider who can carry out your treatment safely and efficiently.

Conscious sedation (to use the full term) feels to you like you are at ease. It also provides a level of amnesia (memory loss). This means that an hour’s appointment may only feel like a couple of minutes. Although you are conscious at the time and able to answer questions coherently and confidently, you may not be able to remember doing so once the sedation wears off.

Yes, sedation is completely safe when administered and monitored by a qualified and experienced professional. We are fully qualified in sedation treatment and put our patients’ safety first.

To prepare for your sedation treatment, you should eat a light meal 1-2 hours before your appointment, and make sure you take all your routine medication as normal. It is also important that you arrange for someone to accompany you to your appointment, as you will need to be driven home and looked after for the rest of the day.