Arden House Dental and Cosmetic Clinic Verified listing

We can help you achieve relaxation and a calm mind-set during your treatment

Some people just dislike dentistry, despite all we do to reassure them, and we understand that. Do you need to have treatment you just don’t like the sound of, or is there something you’d love to do, if only we could help you through?

Listening to our patients this is why we now offer intravenous, (IV), sedation at Arden House.

What is sedation?

Sedation uses medication to calm and relax you. It is modern, safe, predictable and effective. Sedation enables particularly nervous or anxious patients or those having more complex treatment to complete their planned dental care whilst feeling more at ease. It makes potentially stressful procedures much more pleasant and comfortable for you.

At Arden House we offer oral and IV sedation. This information relates, although not exclusively, to IV sedation. Oral sedation has a far more gentle effect; if you would like to know more about oral sedation please ask your dentist.

IV sedation is also known as conscious sedation. You will be awake and able to respond to verbal commands and communicate to us, however you have an altered level of consciousness and may even be able to forget parts of your treatment.

IV sedation uses the drug midazolam, which is administered through a cannula directly into a vein, usually in the crease of your elbow or in the back of your hand.

Can I have IV sedation?

Before you are able to have IV sedation at Arden House you must attend a consultation appointment to ensure it is safe for us to treat you and enable you to ask any questions you may have about the procedure.

During this appointment we will check your blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. We will of course also take your medical history into consideration; the majority of fit and well patients are able to have sedation. It is important to know we are only able to provide sedation for adults, over 18 years of age.

You will be asked to sign a consent form regarding your sedation; you may also have another form regarding the treatment to be carried out.

How long does it last? – The Do’s and Don’ts.

Sedation will alter your level of consciousness and be most apparent for approximately 45minutes. We will monitor your initial recovery and only let you leave when we are happy you are ready to do so. However, the effects of the sedation will be present, to a lesser degree, for up to 24 hours following the procedure. Therefore it is essential you follow our advice, to keep you safe.

We insist the patient has an escort who can take them home by car or private taxi and a responsible adult who can be with them for the next 24 hours; they are of course very welcome to wait in our comfortable lounge, have a coffee and read or surf the net while they wait for you.

Patients who have had sedation should not for 24 hours after their treatment, drive a car or any other vehicle, including a bicycle, be responsible for the care of others e.g. children or elders, be in charge of machinery, including kitchen equipment or make any important decisions or sign important documents.

We also recommend during this period you do not consume alcohol and avoid smoking.

Before my Appointment

On the day of your appointment we ask that you do not to eat anything for 6 hours before and only drink plain water, stopping drinking 2 hours before your appointment time.
You should take all your usual medications unless specifically instructed otherwise.

It is more comfortable if you wear clothing with loose sleeves that can easily be rolled or pulled up so we can easily administer the sedation. Please clean your teeth as usual; a clean mouth will heal better and reduce complications of any dental treatment.

You’re in safe hands

Tom Lees administers all intravenous sedation at Arden House. He has extensive experience in providing IV sedation for over 10 years, and continues to be an integral part of sedation treatment in the hospital setting. He has completed a post-graduate diploma in conscious sedation for dentistry at Cardiff University and is an approved mentor with the Sedation Training Accreditation Committee (Dental Faculties of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and The Royal College of Anaesthetists). He is also a member of the ‘Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry’ and follows the guidelines of good practice set out by this organisation. Needless to say, we are delighted Tom has chosen to bring his skills to Arden House.

What is used to sedate me?

The prescription medicine used is called Midazolam. It is a member of the benzodiazepine group of drugs and is the main agent recommended for use in intravenous sedation in the UK, it’s recovery period is smooth and quite short, and it has no associated feelings of nausea.

How does it feel to be sedated?

You will feel very relaxed and possibly sleepy, in your own world with quite possibly a sense of detachment from what is going on around you; the very best day-dream.

You will remain conscious and able to respond to verbal commands and communicate with us and you can still use your protective reflexes (such as the ability to cough).

Following your treatment, you may even be able to forget parts of your treatment.

How is the sedative given?

The sedative is given through a small plastic tube (a ‘cannula’) placed into a vein on the back of your hand or the crease of your elbow. The insertion of the cannula is very quick and simple.
The sedative is given in small amounts over a period of time until you are sufficiently sedated and happy your treatment begins. Throughout your treatment our specifically trained team will continually monitor you, using medical grade equipment, until you are ready to leave.

What are the risks?

The administration of any drug carries some risk, so it is important you are honest with us and answer all our questions to the best of your ability. The most common side effect is a little bruising at the site where the cannula is placed. You may also find you have some general lethargy, tiredness, in the 24-hour period following your treatment, you may have some or complete amnesia, no recollection or memory, from the time when the sedation is first given. We will provide you with all the relevant advice and if it would help, with your consent, also discuss this with your escort.