Sedation Dentistry
in Park Royal, London NW10
If fear has kept you away from the dentist, sedation lets you have the treatment you need while staying calm, comfortable and in control.
- ✓IV sedation and inhalation sedation available
- ✓You stay awake and able to respond throughout
- ✓Ideal for anxiety, gag reflex or longer appointments
- ✓Fully monitored by our trained clinical team
Park Royal, London NW10 7GL
Call 020 4568 7137
Dental treatment without the dread
Dental anxiety is far more common than most people realise, and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. For some it means putting off a check-up for a year or two. For others it means avoiding the dentist entirely for a decade, while problems quietly get worse.
Sedation breaks that cycle. It takes the edge off the fear so that treatment becomes something you can get through calmly — and once you have had one comfortable appointment, coming back becomes far easier.
Two options, matched to you
We offer both intravenous (IV) and inhalation sedation. Which one suits you depends on how anxious you are, what treatment you need and your medical history — we will talk it through properly before anything is booked.
Inhalation sedation
A controlled mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen, breathed through a small soft nose mask — often called “happy gas”. It works within minutes and produces a warm, calm, slightly floating feeling.
- ✓Mild and easily adjusted
- ✓Clears in 15–30 minutes
- ✓Well suited to children
- ✓Usually no escort needed
IV sedation
A sedative given through a fine cannula in the back of the hand or arm. It produces much deeper relaxation, and most patients remember very little of their treatment afterwards.
- ✓Deeper relaxation for severe anxiety
- ✓Little or no memory of treatment
- ✓Pulse, oxygen and BP monitored
- ✓Escort home essential
With both techniques you remain conscious and able to respond to us — this is not a general anaesthetic. You keep control of your own breathing throughout, which is what makes conscious sedation so much safer than being put to sleep.
Who it helps
Sedation is not only for severe phobia. We use it for patients with a strong gag reflex, those who struggle to stay comfortable through longer appointments, people who find needles difficult, and children who need treatment but cannot yet manage it unaided.
It also allows us to combine several procedures into one longer visit rather than spreading them over many appointments — which for an anxious patient can make an enormous difference.
What to expect
Assessment
We talk through what worries you, review your medical history and medication, and agree which type of sedation suits you. Nothing is booked until you are ready, and we will tell you exactly how to prepare.
Before your appointment
Have a light meal a couple of hours beforehand and take your usual medication. For IV sedation, arrange your escort, wear loose sleeves and flat shoes, and avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
During treatment
Inhalation sedation is breathed through a soft nose mask. IV sedation is given through a fine cannula in the hand or arm, with your pulse, oxygen and blood pressure monitored throughout. You stay awake and able to respond.
Afterwards
After inhalation sedation you will feel normal within 15–30 minutes. After IV sedation you rest with us until ready, then your escort takes you home — no driving, alcohol or important decisions for 24 hours.
Before IV sedation
- ✓Arrange a responsible adult to escort you home
- ✓Have a light meal a couple of hours beforehand
- ✓Take your routine medication as normal
- ✓Wear loose sleeves and flat comfortable shoes
- ✓No alcohol for 24 hours beforehand
- ✓Bring a list of all medication you take
For 24 hours afterwards
- ✓Do not drive, cycle or operate machinery
- ✓Do not travel alone or use public transport
- ✓Have an adult stay with you at home
- ✓Do not drink alcohol
- ✓Do not sign legal or financial documents
- ✓Rest, and contact us if anything worries you
These precautions apply to IV sedation. After inhalation sedation you will normally be back to yourself within 15–30 minutes and can carry on with your day. We will give you written aftercare instructions specific to your appointment.
Sedation FAQs
What is conscious sedation?
Conscious sedation uses medication to help you feel calm and relaxed during dental treatment while you remain awake and able to respond. It is not a general anaesthetic — you keep control of your own breathing and reflexes throughout, and you can tell us at any point how you are feeling.
What is the difference between IV and inhalation sedation?
Inhalation sedation is a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen breathed through a small nose mask. It is mild, wears off within minutes, and you can usually take yourself home. IV sedation is a stronger sedative given through a fine cannula in the back of the hand or arm — it produces deeper relaxation and most people remember very little afterwards, but it requires an escort home and a full 24 hours of recovery.
Will I be asleep?
No. With both types you remain conscious and able to respond to us. Under IV sedation many patients feel as though they slept through it, because the medication affects memory — but you are awake and breathing for yourself the entire time.
How is sedation different from a general anaesthetic?
Under a general anaesthetic you are fully unconscious, which requires a hospital setting and an anaesthetist. Conscious sedation keeps you awake and breathing for yourself, so it is far safer, can be provided here at the practice, and recovery is much quicker.
Is sedation safe?
Both techniques have excellent safety records when properly delivered. We take a full medical history first and check that sedation is appropriate for you. During IV sedation we continuously monitor your pulse, oxygen levels and blood pressure, and remain with you throughout. Inhalation sedation is always mixed with oxygen and is easily reversed.
Who is sedation suitable for?
It suits anyone who finds dental treatment difficult — long-standing dental anxiety, fear of needles, a strong gag reflex, difficulty sitting through longer appointments, or previous bad experiences. Suitability depends on your medical history, medication and certain health conditions, so we assess this properly before booking.
Can children have sedation?
Children are usually treated with inhalation sedation, which is why it is often called “happy gas”. It helps anxious children accept treatment calmly without a general anaesthetic and wears off quickly. IV sedation is generally reserved for adults and older teenagers. A parent or guardian must always accompany a child.
Can I eat or drink beforehand?
Have a light meal a couple of hours before your appointment — arriving with an empty stomach is not helpful, and a heavy meal is not either. Take your routine medication as normal unless we have specifically told you otherwise. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before IV sedation.
Will I still need a local anaesthetic?
Yes. Sedation controls anxiety, not sensation. You will still have a local anaesthetic to numb the area — but because you are deeply relaxed, most patients barely notice it being given, and under IV sedation many do not remember it at all.
Local anaesthetic never seems to work on me. Will sedation help?
It often does. Anxiety heightens sensitivity to pressure and vibration, and tense muscles can make numbing harder to achieve. Being relaxed frequently means the anaesthetic works more effectively and lasts longer. Tell us beforehand so we can plan for it.
Will I feel any pain?
You should not. The combination of local anaesthetic and sedation means most patients feel pressure or movement but no sharp pain. We check you are comfortable before starting and throughout, and you can signal to us at any time.
Will I remember the treatment?
With IV sedation, most people remember very little — the medication has an amnesic effect, so the appointment often feels as though it passed in a few minutes. With inhalation sedation you will usually remember it, but recall it as far less stressful than expected.
How long does it take to recover?
After inhalation sedation you will feel normal within about 15–30 minutes. After IV sedation you will rest with us until we are satisfied you are ready to leave, but the medication takes a full 24 hours to clear — you may feel drowsy or forgetful for the rest of the day.
Can I drive myself home?
After inhalation sedation, usually yes, once we have confirmed you are fully recovered. After IV sedation, absolutely not — you must not drive, cycle or operate machinery for 24 hours, and you cannot travel home alone or on public transport.
Does someone need to come with me?
For IV sedation yes, always. A responsible adult must escort you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. We cannot carry out IV sedation without this arranged in advance. For inhalation sedation an escort is usually not needed, though you are welcome to bring someone.
What should I do for the rest of the day after IV sedation?
Rest at home with your escort present. Do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, sign legal or financial documents, or make important decisions for 24 hours. Eat something light when you feel ready, and contact us if anything concerns you.
What should I wear?
For IV sedation, wear loose clothing with sleeves that roll up easily so we can place the cannula and blood pressure cuff, and flat comfortable shoes. Leave valuables at home.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are usually mild. After inhalation sedation a few patients feel briefly light-headed or slightly nauseous, settling within minutes. After IV sedation you may have some bruising where the cannula was placed, and feel drowsy or forgetful for the rest of the day. We will discuss anything specific to you beforehand.
Does the medication I take interfere with sedation?
It can. Some medicines interact with sedative drugs, and certain conditions affect how you respond. Bring a full list of everything you take — including inhalers, herbal remedies and supplements — to your assessment so we can plan safely.
Does sedation cost extra?
Yes. Sedation is charged in addition to the cost of your treatment, as it requires extra time, equipment, monitoring and trained staff. IV sedation costs more than inhalation. We always confirm the full cost in writing before you agree to anything.
Sedation Dentistry in Park Royal, London
Unit 5A, 9 Lakeside Drive, London NW10 7GL
Near Park Royal Station (Piccadilly line) · Serving Acton, Ealing, Harlesden, Wembley & beyond