INTRAVENOUS (IV) SEDATION
Intravenous (IV) Sedation at Avenue Dental
At Avenue Dental, we want your dental experience to feel as comfortable and manageable as possible — especially if the thought of treatment makes you nervous. For patients who feel anxious, who have a sensitive gag reflex, or who need a little extra help getting through more involved treatment, IV sedation can make a real difference.
Available across our practices on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide, IV sedation lets you have your dental treatment in a calm, deeply relaxed state. It’s administered by a qualified anaesthetist whose sole focus is looking after your sedation and monitoring you throughout, while one of our dentists carries out your treatment. Many people remember little of the procedure afterwards, and you’ll have time to recover with us before heading home.
IV sedation is a medical procedure that carries risks as well as benefits. Not everyone is a suitable candidate — suitability depends on your general health, medical history, medications, and the treatment you need, and is assessed on an individual basis. Read more on our Treatment Risks page.
Is IV sedation right for you?
IV sedation is a medical procedure, and like any sedation it carries risks as well as benefits — which is exactly why every patient is assessed individually before going ahead. Not everyone is a suitable candidate: your general health, any medical conditions, the medications you take, and the treatment you need all factor into whether IV sedation is appropriate for you. Some people aren’t suitable for sedation in a dental-clinic setting, and your dentist and the anaesthetist will be honest with you about that.
Before anything goes ahead, your health and suitability are assessed, and the anaesthetist and your dentist talk you through what to expect — including that you’ll need someone to drive you home afterwards, since you won’t be able to drive yourself. Throughout your treatment, your comfort and safety are monitored closely by the anaesthetist from start to finish. You can read more about the risks on our Treatment Risks page.
Our Sleep Dentistry Services Include
How IV sedation can help
- Calmer, more comfortable treatment: IV sedation puts you into a deeply relaxed state, so treatment that might otherwise feel overwhelming becomes far more manageable. You stay comfortable while the anaesthetist looks after your sedation and your dentist gets on with the work.
- A real option for dental anxiety: If fear or phobia has been keeping you from the dentist, IV sedation can make it possible to get the treatment you’ve been putting off, without the dread.
- More done in fewer visits: Because you’re relaxed and settled, several procedures can often be completed in a single appointment — which can mean fewer trips back to the chair.
- Recovery in familiar surrounds: IV sedation is carried out in our practice rather than a hospital, and you’ll have time to recover with us before heading home. Recovery times vary from person to person, and you’ll need someone to drive you.
IV sedation is a medical procedure that carries risks as well as benefits. Not everyone is a suitable candidate — suitability depends on your general health, medical history, medications, and the treatment you need, and is assessed on an individual basis. IV sedation is administered and monitored by a qualified anaesthetist. This information is general in nature and intended for adults; it is not a substitute for personalised advice. Your suitability, and the risks and benefits for your circumstances, must be assessed and discussed with your dentist and anaesthetist before treatment. Read more on our Treatment Risks page.
Is IV sedation expensive?
The main additional cost is the anaesthetist’s fee, on top of your dental treatment. Depending on your circumstances, Medicare may contribute toward the anaesthetist’s costs, which can help reduce your out-of-pocket expense — your dentist’s team can talk you through what to expect for your situation. IV sedation is generally a more affordable option than general anaesthetic, which is only needed in specific cases.
Where is IV sedation performed?
IV sedation is carried out in our own dental practices rather than a hospital, which means treatment happens in a familiar, comfortable setting. It’s available across our Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide practices.
What IV sedation can be used for
IV sedation can be suitable for a range of treatments, including:
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Dental implants
- Root canal treatment
- Full-mouth rehabilitation
- Multiple fillings or extractions in one visit
Whether IV sedation is appropriate for your treatment and for you is something your dentist and the anaesthetist will assess and discuss with you.
Flexible payment plans
At Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, we understand that dental treatment can be difficult to fit into your budget, which is why we offer a range of different dental payment plan options.
