Sedation

Inhalation Sedation

What Is Inhalation Sedation?

Inhalation sedation involves breathing in a mixture of two gases — nitrous oxide (sometimes called “happy gas” or “laughing gas”) and oxygen.

The gas is delivered through a small nosepiece that rests comfortably on your nose.
Your mouth remains uncovered, so the dentist can work as normal.
As you breathe normally through your nose, the gas helps you feel calm and more comfortable.

How Does It Work?

After a few minutes of breathing the gas, you’ll start to feel more relaxed and less anxious.
You’ll remain awake and aware, and you’ll be able to talk and respond to the dental team.
Many people describe feeling floaty, warm, or tingly, and sounds may seem distant.

What Are the Benefits of Inhalation Sedation?

Helps reduce fear and anxiety about dental treatment
Works quickly and wears off soon after the procedure
You stay awake and in control
No injections are needed for sedation itself
Especially helpful for children or patients with special needs
You can usually go home safely soon after treatment

Will I Still Need a Numbing Injection?

Inhalation sedation helps with anxiety and relaxation, but it doesn’t block pain. If your treatment involves anything uncomfortable, such as a filling or extraction, your dentist will still use a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area in your mouth. Most patients feel much more able to cope with this once they are relaxed.

Sedation Resources

Leaflets and Videos

IV Sedation

What Is Intravenous (IV) Sedation?

IV sedation involves giving a calming medication directly into your bloodstream through a small tube (cannula) placed in your arm or hand. It helps you:

Feel deeply relaxed and less anxious
Stay still during treatment
Remember little or nothing about the procedure afterward

It is not a general anaesthetic – you will stay awake and able to respond to the dental team.

What Are the Benefits of IV Sedation?

Helps reduce anxiety and involuntary movements
Makes dental treatment more comfortable and manageable
You will remain awake but relaxed, and may not remember the treatment
Avoids the need for a general anaesthetic, which has greater risks

Please Note

IV, Oral and Nasal sedation services are only available for our Special Care Patients those with additional health, behavioural, or communication needs that require extra support during dental treatment.

We do not accept referrals for patients who are solely anxious or phobic. If you are seeking support for dental anxiety or phobia without additional special care needs, please speak to your general dental practitioner about alternative options.

Leaflets and Videos

Oral and Intranasal Sedation

What Is Oral Sedation?

Oral sedation involves giving a sedative medicine in a drink. It:

Takes around 10 minutes to work
Helps you feel relaxed, calm, and less anxious
May have a slightly bitter taste, but we mix it with a sweet drink to make it easier to take

What Is Intranasal (Transmucosal) Sedation?

Intranasal sedation uses a fine spray of sedative medicine delivered into the nose. It:

Is quick and effective, working within 5–10 minutes
Is absorbed through the lining of the nose into the bloodstream
Is especially useful if a drink cannot be taken

What Happens Next?

After either oral or intranasal sedation has taken effect:

A small plastic tube (cannula) is gently placed into a vein, usually in your arm or hand.
- This is done for safety and allows us to give more sedative if needed during treatment
- A numbing cream can be used to reduce any discomfort
Once you’re fully relaxed, the dentist will carry out your treatment
A local anaesthetic (injection) may also be used to numb the area in the mouth being treated, so you don’t feel pain

What Will I Feel Like?

You will likely feel:

Drowsy, relaxed, and calm
Less aware of your surroundings
You may not remember much about the procedure afterwards

You will remain awake and able to respond to the dental team during treatment.

What Are the Benefits of Oral and Intranasal Sedation?

It helps with relaxation during the dental procedure
You will remain awake and able to respond when spoken to
You will not be aware of the dental procedure that may otherwise be unpleasant and will have little or no memory of it afterwards
It allows treatment to be carried out without the need for a general anaesthetic, which carries greater risks