St Faith Dental Practice

Expert inhalation sedation

Expert inhalation sedation

Inhalation Sedation, East Grinstead

Inhalation sedation means that the sedation is given by breathing nitrous oxide with oxygen and occasionally a further sedative, given as a mixed gas, which reduces Anxiety.

The dentist will give you the gas through a mouth or nosepiece. This will not cover your mouth during treatment. Once you are sedated, the dentist may use local anaesthetic around the site of the dental treatment.

Local anaesthetic as a paste is sometimes used to numb the site of the treatment. Any injections you need will then be given through this numbed area to minimise any discomfort.

Sedation from £350

Sedation costs will vary depending on treatment complexity

Choose us and benefit from

Our sedation team includes

Abother Malik

Sedationist
GMC No: 4474494

Imad Ali

Sedationist
GMC No: 4429346

David Whittaker

Sedationist
GDC No: 2833749

Our gentle & caring sedation team at St Faith Dental have over 90 years combined expertise, and by using safe and effective techniques they make sure your experience with us is a pain free one.

Our friendly sedation team are here to help

What to expect

Pre-assessment

If you have requested a pre-assessment, it is usual to have two appointments. The first appointment will be for an assessment when your dental treatment under sedation will be planned and discussed with you. The dental treatment may take place at the second and subsequent appointments.

If the treatment is needed as an emergency, or it is otherwise considered to be in your best interest, it may be possible to have some treatment under sedation at the first appointment

Medical history & pregnancy

It is important that you let the dentist know your medical history and any medicines that you are taking.

If you think you may be pregnant, you need to let the dentist know. You may need to come back to have your treatment at another time. You should let your dentist know if you are breastfeeding.

Prior to sedation

The dentist will confirm whether you need to restrict what you eat or drink on the day of treatment. If you have any questions or are unclear about having your sedation, then do not hesitate to ask your dentist.

During the sedation

As you receive the gas via a nosepiece, you may get a feeling of warmth throughout your body as well as some mild tingling and light-headedness. You will stay awake and in control of all your reflexes, such as coughing.

Once you are sedated with the gas, the dentist may use local analgesia (pain relief that numbs the site of the dental treatment). Local anaesthetic as a paste is sometimes used to numb the site of the treatment.

Any injection that you may need can then be given through this numbed area to reduce the chance of any discomfort.

After the treatment

You are unlikely to have any side effects, such as feeling sick or headache. At the end of the procedure, the dentist will give you some extra oxygen to make you feel more alert. This will speed up your recovery from the effects of the sedation.

You will spend time in the recovery area after the treatment is over. You will be checked by the dentist or an appropriate member of the dental team before you go home.

It is not always necessary to have someone with you following this type of simple inhalation sedation. You may be advised not to drive a car, ride a bicycle or operate machinery for up to 2 hours following your treatment.

You will be given information relating to any local analgesia and the dental treatment you have received. The dental team will also advise you about any medicines you may need while recovering from the treatment. You will be given a telephone number of who to contact if you have any problems as a result of the treatment.

Parents or those with parental responsibility for children and young people aged under 16 years

What is inhalation sedation?

The child in your care may require dental treatment under inhalation sedation. This will help the child feel less anxious, slightly drowsy and more relaxed for the dental treatment.

Inhalation sedation does not make the child unconscious. The child remains awake but may feel warm and detached. The child’s memory of the treatment afterwards may be slightly reduced.

Inhalation sedation means that the child will breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen and occasionally a further sedative from a nosepiece placed on the nose. This will have a relaxing effect.

Benefits and risks of inhalation sedation

Inhalation sedation is used to reduce anxiety and fear of dental treatment. This makes the child more co-operative.

This is particularly helpful if the child is having a longer, uncomfortable or more complicated procedure. It is a widely used technique.

The dentist and members of the dental team are trained to give sedation. They watch the child closely and treat any problems that may develop.

The nitrous oxide is completely breathed out of the body within 30 minutes of the end of the treatment. This means that the child can recover very quickly from this type of sedation.

The dentist will give the child some oxygen at the end of the sedation to help prevent the child feeling a bit sick or having a headache.

The child will be asked to wait until the dentist has checked that he or she has fully recovered from the sedation. The child will not be allowed to go home with you until the dentist has checked this.

What to expect

Inhalation sedation is used to reduce anxiety and fear of dental treatment. This makes the child more co-operative.

This is particularly helpful if the child is having a longer, uncomfortable or more complicated procedure. It is a widely used technique.

The dentist and members of the dental team are trained to give sedation. They watch the child closely and treat any problems that may develop.

The nitrous oxide is completely breathed out of the body within 30 minutes of the end of the treatment. This means that the child can recover very quickly from this type of sedation.

The dentist will give the child some oxygen at the end of the sedation to help prevent the child feeling a bit sick or having a headache.

The child will be asked to wait until the dentist has checked that he or she has fully recovered from the sedation. The child will not be allowed to go home with you until the dentist has checked this.

What will happen during the sedation?

During the procedure, the child will breathe the nitrous oxide and oxygen and occasionally a further sedative drug through a mouth or nosepiece on the nose. The child may feel warm with tingly fingers and toes.

Once the child is sedated, and feels drowsy and relaxed, the dentist can use local analgesia (pain relief that numbs the site of the dental treatment). Local anaesthetic as a paste is sometimes used to numb the site of the treatment.

Any injections that the child may need can then be given through this numbed area to reduce the chance of any discomfort.

When the dental treatment is completed, the nitrous oxide mixture will be stopped and replaced with oxygen. The nosepiece will be taken off, and the child will be sat up in the dentist’s chair and will continue to recover fully for a few minutes. The dentist or a member of the dental team will monitor the child during recovery.

The child will be able to leave the surgery/dental practice once he or she has fully recovered, is alert and is not feeling dizzy. This usually takes about 30 minutes after the treatment has ended. The child will be checked by the dentist before being allowed to go home.

The child may not participate in organised or active sports for the rest of the day but may be able to return to school. The dentist will discuss this with you.

The child can eat and drink normally after the treatment but care should be taken if areas of the mouth are still numb to avoid lip, cheek or tongue biting. You will be given information relating to any local analgesia and the treatment the child has received.

The dentist will explain which pain relief medicines the child may have while recovering and the local analgesia wears off. You will be given a telephone number of who to contact in case of any concerns.

Highly rated on Google Business

“My 5 year old child had inhalation sedation for a tooth extraction today and there was no crying! He walked out fully aware of what happened, but was not traumatised. All staff were very kind and encouraging throughout. Thank you.”

Our friendly sedation team are here to help

Unfortunately NHS Commissioning standards have changed

We are now obliged to carry out all NHS treatment on under 12’s using inhalation sedation only.

This limits the types of treatment that we may be able to carry out on NHS contract, and regrettably we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete all of the treatment you have been referred for.

We remain compliant with National ‘IACSD’ sedation guidelines which allow us the clinical freedom to use -where necessary -alternative ‘advanced’ sedation techniques on a non- NHS (private) basis.

If it looks like treatment will not be successful under ‘basic’ sedation, the options will be to refer you onward to Community Dental Service or Hospital (where facilities allow) or back to your own dentist for the treatment to be attempted under local anasethetic, or to discuss re-referral on a private basis.

We wish to make clear that this situation is purely as a result of NHS commissioning and completely beyond our control, but assure you of our best efforts in continuing to provide high standards in NHS treatment where possible.