For nervous patients and longer treatments

Intravenous conscious sedation in York

Feel calmer and more comfortable during dental treatment

Dental anxiety can make even arranging an appointment feel difficult. Intravenous conscious sedation can help you feel deeply relaxed and less aware of treatment while remaining conscious and able to respond to the dental team.

Book a complimentary conversation Call 01904 904 500

The first conversation is with our treatment coordinator, a dental nurse. It is free and is not a clinical examination.

Female dentist discussing intravenous conscious sedation with a patient in York — Where to start £0
You can begin with a free conversation with a member of our clinical team.

At Heslington Dental Practice, we provide intravenous conscious sedation using midazolam for suitable patients aged 12 and over. It can help people who feel anxious about dental care, have a needle phobia, need a longer or more complex procedure, or would simply feel more comfortable with additional support.

Sedation we provide: IV conscious sedation using midazolam
Who can be assessed: Suitable patients aged 12 and over
Aged 12–15: Young patient and parent or legal guardian both consent
Not offered here: Inhalation sedation (“gas and air”)

In plain English

What is intravenous conscious sedation?

Intravenous, or IV, conscious sedation involves giving a sedative medicine called midazolam through a small plastic tube called a cannula, usually placed in a vein in the hand or arm.

The medicine helps you become calm, drowsy and relaxed. You are not unconscious: you continue to breathe for yourself and can respond to the dental team. Many patients remember little or nothing about the treatment after the sedative has been given, although this varies from person to person and cannot be guaranteed.

Sedation does not numb the teeth or gums. The dentist will still use local anaesthetic where it is needed, normally once you are relaxed and the sedation is working.

Heslington Dental Practice provides IV conscious sedation. We do not provide inhalation sedation at this practice.

Who it may help

Who may benefit from dental sedation?

Every patient is different. These are the situations in which our dentists most often consider IV sedation.

IV sedation may be helpful if you:

feel very nervous or anxious about dental treatment;
have avoided dentistry because of fear;
have a needle phobia;
need a longer procedure and would find it difficult to remain comfortable;
are having an extraction, surgical or wisdom-tooth extraction, dental implant treatment or another suitable procedure;
would prefer to feel less aware of treatment.

Suitability is always assessed individually

Patients with an unstable or complex medical history, or those who need treatment for conditions such as complex facial fractures, cysts or cancer, may need referral to a hospital or specialist service.

Your dentist will talk this through with you at your consultation, including any suitable alternatives.

Who will look after you

An experienced sedation team

Sedation is provided by dentists with postgraduate training and more than ten years’ experience in dental conscious sedation.

You will be looked after by an experienced team in our modern practice in Heslington, York. We explain each stage carefully, give you time to ask questions and assess whether sedation is a safe and appropriate option for you.

Dr Emma Skipper

BChD, PGDip Con Sed, MFDS RCS, MSc, BSc

Emma completed postgraduate training in conscious sedation at Newcastle Dental Hospital, receiving her postgraduate diploma with merit. She also leads a sedation and oral-surgery service in Hull, where she provides complex extractions with dental sedation.

Dr Katie McCarthy

BDS, PGDip Con Sed, MFDS RCS

Katie completed postgraduate training in conscious sedation at Newcastle Dental Hospital, receiving her postgraduate diploma with merit. Her earlier hospital experience included oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Routine casesIn routine cases, the treating dentist administers the sedation and carries out the dental treatment, supported by appropriately trained staff who assist with treatment and monitor the patient.

Complex casesFor complex cases, one dentist may carry out the treatment while a second dentist acts as the dedicated sedationist.

Your journey: From first conversation to recovery

Four stages, each explained before it happens. You can stop after the first conversation and decide in your own time.

Step 1: Complimentary treatment-coordinator conversation
£0 · complimentary

You can begin with a free conversation with a member of our clinical team. The treatment coordinator is a dental nurse who can explain the sedation journey and answer general questions. This is not a clinical examination: the treatment coordinator does not diagnose conditions or create a treatment plan.
Step 2: Dentist consultation — £50
£50May include X-rays

Your dentist will review your medical history and assess your dental needs. The appointment may include X-rays. We will discuss the proposed treatment, its benefits and risks, the role of sedation and any suitable alternatives.

If treatment can be provided safely at Heslington, you will receive a treatment plan and cost estimate. Consent for the dental treatment and sedation will be discussed and recorded. You will also receive written preparation and aftercare instructions.
Step 3: Treatment appointment
£400 sedation per sessionEscort stays at the practice

Your escort must come with you and remain at the practice throughout the appointment.

A cannula is placed in a vein in your hand or arm and midazolam is given gradually until you feel suitably relaxed. Your dental treatment is then carried out in the usual way, including local anaesthetic where required.

Throughout the appointment, the team monitors you closely. Monitoring may include your oxygen level, pulse, breathing, blood pressure and level of consciousness.
Step 4: Recovery and discharge
Home by car or taxi24 hours with a responsible adult

After treatment, you will recover in the dental chair or a designated recovery area. You will be discharged only when the clinical team is satisfied that you have recovered sufficiently and can leave safely with your escort.

You must travel home with your escort by car or taxi, not public transport. A responsible adult must remain with you at the same premises for the full 24 hours after treatment, including overnight.

Before and after

Preparing and recovering safely

The written instructions we give you are always the ones to follow. This is the shape of a typical sedation day, so you can plan ahead.

Your sedation day at a glance

Earlier in the dayEat normally, unless your dentist gives you different instructions.
2 hours beforeNo solid food. No drinks other than clear fluids.
At the practiceYour escort comes with you and stays throughout.
Going homeWith your escort, by car or taxi. Not public transport.
The first 24 hoursA responsible adult stays with you, including overnight. No driving or work.
The following dayNo driving at any point. Plan to take the day off work too.

Preparing for your appointment

Follow the individual written instructions supplied by the practice. Unless the dentist gives you different instructions, you may eat normally earlier in the day but must avoid solid food and drinks other than clear fluids during the two hours before your appointment. This is intended to reduce the likelihood of nausea and vomiting.

You must also:

arrange for a responsible adult to attend with you, remain at the practice and take you home;
arrange for that adult to stay with you for the full 24 hours after treatment;
tell us about all medical conditions, medicines, allergies and any changes in your health;
follow any additional instructions provided by your dentist.

Sedation cannot go ahead if the required escort arrangements are not in place.

After IV sedation

Even if you feel well, the sedative may continue to affect your judgement, coordination and reactions.

You must not drive after treatment on the day of your appointment or at any point during the following day.

You must follow the full written aftercare instructions provided by the practice.

After sedation, you should not:

travel home alone or use public transport;
work for the remainder of the treatment day;
operate machinery, appliances or equipment;
drink alcohol or take recreational drugs;
sign important documents or make important decisions;
supervise children or another person who depends on you.

It is sensible to plan to take the following day off work too, particularly if your job involves driving, machinery, responsibility for others or important decisions. Your dentist will advise you according to your treatment and type of work.

Recovery from sedation is different from healing after the dental procedure. The effects and restrictions associated with sedation apply around the first day, while recovery from an extraction, implant or surgical procedure may take longer. You will receive separate aftercare advice for the dental treatment you have had.

Young patients

IV sedation for young people aged 12–15

We can consider IV conscious sedation for suitable young people from the age of 12.

Sedation can be useful for some young people who need procedures such as orthodontic extractions, but it is not automatically suitable for every patient. The dentist will assess the young person’s health, understanding, anxiety and treatment needs before recommending it.

For patients aged 12–15:

a parent or legal guardian must attend both the consultation and treatment appointment;
both the young patient and the parent or legal guardian must consent;
the same assessment, escort and aftercare requirements apply;
the consultation and sedation fees are the same as for adults.

What it costs

Fees

Each stage is priced separately, so you know what you are committing to before you commit to it.

Start here £0
Complimentary treatment-coordinator conversation
Assessment £50
Dentist sedation consultation
Each sedation session £400
IV sedation, per treatment session
Your treatment Charged separately
Dental treatment

A written estimate is provided after assessment.

Per session, any lengthThe £400 sedation fee applies to each session, regardless of the session’s length. If treatment is divided across two sedation appointments, two sedation fees apply.

Ages 12–15Young people aged 12–15 pay the same consultation and sedation fees as adults.

Treatment feesTreatment fees can change and are separate from the sedation fee. Please consult the practice’s current fees page for guide prices; the dentist will confirm the treatment cost following assessment.

No pressure, no examination

Take the first step at your own pace

If dental anxiety has made it difficult to get the treatment you need, start with a complimentary conversation. Our team will listen without judgement, explain how IV sedation works and help you decide what to do next.

Complimentary conversation Book a complimentary conversation 01904 904 500

Call 01904 904 500 or contact Heslington Dental Practice to arrange your complimentary treatment-coordinator conversation.
11/12 Main Street, Heslington, York YO10 5EA

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Answers here are general information. The written instructions your dentist gives you always take priority.

Something not covered? Call 01904 904 500 and ask for our treatment coordinator.

About IV sedation

Will I be asleep during IV sedation?

No. This is conscious sedation, not a general anaesthetic. You will feel deeply relaxed and drowsy, but you will remain conscious, breathe for yourself and be able to respond to the dental team. Some people feel as though they have been asleep because they remember very little afterwards.

What medicine is used?

Heslington Dental Practice uses midazolam for IV conscious sedation. It is given gradually through a cannula in a vein in your hand or arm until you reach a suitable level of relaxation.

Will I remember the treatment?

Midazolam can cause anterograde amnesia, which means you may have little or no memory of events after the medicine is given. Memory varies between patients, so we cannot promise that you will remember nothing.

Will I still need a local anaesthetic?

Yes, where the dental procedure requires it. Sedation helps you feel calm and comfortable but does not numb the treatment area. Local anaesthetic is normally given after the sedation has taken effect.

Is IV sedation safe?

IV sedation is a widely used technique, but all medicines and procedures carry risks. Before treatment, the dentist will review your medical history, assess your suitability and discuss the relevant benefits, risks and alternatives. During treatment, trained staff monitor you closely using appropriate equipment.

Do you provide gas and air or inhalation sedation?

No. Heslington Dental Practice currently provides intravenous conscious sedation, not inhalation sedation.

Preparing and recovering

Can I eat before IV sedation?

Unless your dentist gives you different instructions, you may eat normally earlier in the day. During the two hours before your appointment, avoid solid food and any drinks other than clear fluids. Always follow the written instructions supplied specifically for you.

Do I need someone to come with me?

Yes. A responsible adult must accompany you, remain at the practice, take you home by car or taxi and stay with you at the same premises for the full 24 hours after treatment, including overnight.

Can I drive the next day?

No. Heslington Dental Practice instructs patients not to drive after treatment on the appointment day or at any point during the following day. Plan your transport in advance and follow the written instructions given to you.

Can I go back to work after sedation?

No, you must not return to work on the day of treatment. It is best to arrange the following day off too, especially if your work involves driving, machinery, caring for others or important decisions. Ask your dentist for advice relating to your work and procedure.

Treatments, young people and fees

What dental treatments can be carried out with sedation?

Sedation may support many types of dentistry. At Heslington it is commonly considered for extractions, surgical and wisdom-tooth extractions, dental implants, longer appointments and treatment for people who feel anxious or have a needle phobia. Your dentist will advise whether it is suitable for your planned treatment.

Is IV sedation available for young people?

Suitable patients aged 12 and over can be assessed. For a patient aged 12–15, a parent or legal guardian must attend the consultation and treatment appointment, and both the young patient and the adult with parental responsibility must consent.

How much does dental sedation cost?

The initial treatment-coordinator conversation is complimentary. The dentist sedation consultation costs £50 and IV sedation costs £400 per treatment session. Dental treatment is charged separately. If treatment is split between two sedation sessions, two sedation fees apply. Fees for patients aged 12–15 are the same as for adults.