0456 608 199
Online Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some quick questions you may have about our mobile IV sedation services listed below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us.
What is IV Sedation?

Intravenous Sedation in dentistry is a safe and highly effective way to make your dental visit calm,
comfortable, and stress-free. Also known as twilight sedation or sleep dentistry, it involves a
combination of anaesthetic, sedative, and pain-relieving medications. These create a relaxed,
dream-like state where you remain drowsy but still able to breathe on your own, move, and follow
simple instructions.

Most patients have little to no memory of the procedure, often feeling as if only a few minutes have
passed, even if it took several hours. Unlike general anaesthesia, IV sedation is safer, more cost effective, and allows for quicker recovery with minimal side effects. It enables your dentist to treat
you in their clinic without the risks and extended downtime associated with a full general anaesthetic.

IV sedation is available and very effective for most dental procedures. It is suitable and extremely safe for most people.

IV sedation may be beneficial for patients who:

    • Have anxiety or fear/phobia or are nervous about dental procedures or avoid going to the dentist.
    • Have had traumatic or negative dental experiences in the past.
    • Require complex, multiple, extensive or long dental treatments.
    • Dislike needles, drills, pain/discomfort, sights, sounds/noises, tastes or smells associated with their dental procedure.
    • Have sensitive teeth or gums.
    • Require removal of wisdom teeth, teeth extractions, dental surgery/oral surgery, dental implants, root canal treatment, fillings, periodontal or gum treatments, crowns and bridges, full mouth restorations, bone grafts, All on X, emergency procedures, and so forth.
    • Have limited time and wish to undertake their dental procedures in one appointment instead of multiple appointments.

Prior to your dental treatment you will complete an anaesthetic questionnaire and consent forms which will be electronically sent to you. These must be completed and submitted for review.

During your IV sedation, you will be continuously monitored using hospital-grade, Australian and
New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) recommended full monitoring standards. Oxygen
therapy via nasal prongs will also be available if needed throughout the entire procedure.

An advanced programmable syringe driver, routinely used in hospital operating theatres across
Australia will deliver a precise and continuous infusion of IV anaesthetic, sedative, and pain-relieving
medications. This is administered through a small IV cannula (drip) placed in your arm or hand.

For maximum comfort, local anaesthetic and/or nerve blocks (for intra-operative and post-operative pain relief) will only be administered after IV sedation has taken effect so that there is usually no awareness or memory of the needles or dental procedure in the majority of patients.

Throughout the procedure, comprehensive continuous patient monitoring will be conducted. This real-time monitoring allows the anaesthesia team to accurately adjust and titrate the IV medications to the appropriate level required for your procedure.

While IV sedation is extremely safe, emergency and resuscitation medications, as well as necessary equipment, will always be available in accordance with ANZCA recommended guidelines.

Side effects and complications are rare with IV sedation. The minority of patients have dream-like recollections of the experience and can recall features of the clinic or verbal conversations, but these are typically not distressing. IV sedation is generally well tolerated, and side effects/complications are uncommon and are more infrequent than compared with general anaesthesia. Transient minor side-effects can include dizziness and nausea. IV anti-nausea medications are also given prophylactically so the risk of nausea is extremely low.
The relative contraindications or conditions where intravenous sedation should be ideally performed in a hospital setting instead of in a dental clinic include the following:
  • Paediatric patients younger than 15 years old.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Unstable severe medical conditions.
  • Symptomatic, severe or unstable cardiac or respiratory conditions.

Wear loose comfortable clothing, with sleeves that can be easily rolled up, so that your blood pressure can be measured with a cuff on your upper arm. Do not wear dresses or high-heeled shoes. We suggest bringing a spare change of clothing for after the procedure.

Recovery from IV sedation typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, but this may vary. Once you meet the
discharge criteria, you can go home under the care of a nominated responsible adult.
A responsible adult must accompany you and drive you home as well as stay with you overnight.
IV sedation cannot be performed unless you have someone to take care of you post-procedure.
While you may feel alert, the sedation medications take time to fully leave your system. Cognition,
judgment, coordination, reflexes, and balance may be temporarily affected so it is medically
recommended that you return home and rest. You may feel tired or sleepy for a few hours.
For 24 hours after IV sedation, do not:

  • Drive
  • Make important decisions
  • Use dangerous equipment or tools
  • Operate machinery
  • Sign any legal documents
  • Drink alcohol
  • Exercise or engage in strenuous activity

Our highly trained and experienced nursing staff play a vital role in ensuring your safety and comfort. They assist with IV administration, help monitor your vital signs, and provide personalised care before, during, and after the procedure. Trained in airway management, IV cannulation, and recovery care, they help ensure a smooth and reassuring experience.

Dental IV Sedation Anaesthetic Services offers multiple acceptable payment options including payment options via Medicnet, BPoint payment options as well as MediPay payment plan options.

MediPay is an Australian provider of flexible medical, dental and cosmetic payment plans, offering fast pre-approval with funds paid directly to Dental IV Sedation Anaesthetic Services. Early payment is encouraged with discount rates and no penalty for early repayments, with plan terms of up to 48 months.

Using the MediPay Pay Later Calculator, patients can calculate repayments upfront with transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and no early repayment penalties. Backed by an Australian-based customer care team, MediPay helps patients confidently access the treatment they need.

For more help on how we can support you at MediPay call Customer Care on 1800 810 950 or email us on customercare@medipay.com.au.

Make a Payment
Online Admissions