If you feel anxious about visiting the dentist—or avoid appointments altogether out of fear of pain or discomfort—dental sedation may be the right option for you.
Sedation is designed to help you feel calm and relaxed throughout your treatment. At Takapuna Dentists, we offer both intravenous (IV) sedation and inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
With IV sedation, a carefully controlled anti-anxiety medication is administered into a vein in your hand or arm.
With nitrous oxide, you simply breathe a mild sedative gas through a nasal piece, helping you feel calm and comfortable during your procedure.
While under sedation, you will remain conscious and able to respond to instructions, but you will feel deeply relaxed and may remember very little of the procedure afterwards.
Our dentists and nurses are specially trained in sedation techniques and will monitor you closely at every step, ensuring your safety, comfort, and peace of mind.
Dental sedation refers to the use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It is commonly used for patients with dental anxiety, those undergoing lengthy or complex treatments, or individuals with a strong gag reflex.
The main types of dental sedation include oral sedation (tablets or liquids taken before treatment), intravenous (IV) sedation (administered directly into the bloodstream), and inhalation sedation (such as nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”).
Dental sedation is generally very safe when administered by qualified dental professionals. Your dentist will assess your medical history and current health to determine the most suitable sedation option for you.
Most dental sedation methods (oral and IV) allow you to remain conscious and able to respond to instructions, though you may feel very relaxed or drowsy. Some patients may remember little or nothing of the procedure.
Your dentist will provide specific instructions, which may include avoiding food or drink for a certain period before your appointment. After sedation, you will need someone to escort you home and should rest for the remainder of the day.
