Cold Feet At The Very Thought Of A Dental Visit? Shellharbour Dentists Offer a Perfect Solution with IV Sedation
If fear is holding you back from essential dental treatment, IV sedation from Shellharbour Dentists is a blessing for you. Also called conscious sedation or twilight sedation, our sedation dentist or visiting specialist anaesthetist offers this highly effective technique in calming the patient’s nerves and easing discomfort during procedures.
The end result is a stress-free, successful completion of the dental care you need without any procedural hurdles when one is seeking a sedation dentistry near me.
Who is an ideal candidate for IV sedation?
IV sedation is ideal for patients who experience dental anxiety, have a low pain threshold, or require complex or lengthy procedures. Performed by a sedation dentist, not everyone is automatically suitable for this method.
Before proceeding:
- You will be asked to attend a consultation or you can bring it up during a routine dental check up and clean session.
- Here, your health history and current condition will be reviewed by Shellharbour Dentists.
- If required or if any medical conditions exist, an online assessment will help our qualified seditionist evaluate your suitability in a more thorough manner.
With these steps, our expert sedation dentist ensures that IV sedation is the safest and most appropriate option for managing your pain and anxiety. However, in some cases, general anaesthetic may be more advisable, depending on the outcome of the thorough evaluation.
We suggest discussing all the factors transparently with us during your next dental check-up and clean visit. Your safety is always our sedation dentist’s priority .
What Shellharbour Dentists Advise For IV Sedation?
If our evaluation points towards safe usage of IV Sedation, there are some essential post-treatment instructions you must follow to ensure your safety:
- Bring an adult with you to your appointment who can stay at the clinic and drive you home afterwards.
- Avoid alcohol, ensure sufficient hydration and rest as the sedative can remain in your system for up to 24 hours. Use this time to relax and avoid any strenuous activity.
- Do not drive or operate any heavy machinery for at least 24 hours following your procedure.
How Is IV Sedation Administered At Shellharbour Dentists?
IV sedation at Shellharbour Dentists involves our sedation dentist or by Specialist Anaesthetist from Illawarra Mobile Anaesthetic Team (IMAT) administering a sedative through a small catheter placed into a vein. This allows the medication to take effect quickly, placing you into a deeply relaxed, semi-conscious state while reducing pain and discomfort.
It is often combined with local anaesthesia to numb the treatment area.
Patients typically report feeling extremely calm and detached, with many having little or no memory of the procedure afterward.
What To Do On The Day Of IV Sedation?
You can
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
- Brush your teeth thoroughly before your visit.
- Take your usual prescribed medication with a small sip of water, unless advised otherwise.
You shouldn’t
- Eat or drink for at least 6 hours and smoke 24 hours before your appointment.
- Attend your appointment if you’ve been unwell in the past 2 weeks. In this case, please contact us to reschedule.
- Wear contact lenses, nail polish, or jewellery on the day of your procedure.
Have more questions? Searching for a sedation dentist near me? Don’t hesitate to contact Shellharbour Dentists on (02) 4216 9911.
FAQ’s
Yes, when assessed individually by a qualified sedationist. Pre-sedation consultations ensure it’s medically safe for older or medically vulnerable patients.
Most clinics restrict IV sedation to adults or older teens; paediatric cases require specialist referral and stricter safety protocols.
Most local dental clinics offer in-house sedation consultations, i.e., no GP referral needed unless requested due to your medical history.
Light meals can be resumed a few hours after the procedure, once you’re fully alert and not feeling nauseous or groggy.
No. You’ll feel deeply relaxed and pain-free, especially as sedation is usually paired with a local anaesthetic at the treatment site.
Always inform our experts at Shellharbour Dentists in advance. You may be advised to take essential medication with a sip of water unless told otherwise.