Sedation and anaesthesia for dental treatment: what to know

Dental treatment can involve different ways of keeping you comfortable. Most treatments need only numbing. Sedation or general anaesthetic may be considered for people who are very anxious, or when treatment is longer or more complex. Not every option suits every person, and not every clinic offers every option.

Three different things

• Local anaesthetic numbs the area being treated. You are awake and should not feel pain.
• Sedation helps you feel calm and relaxed. It can be given as a gas through a nose mask, or through an injection into a vein. You stay awake, though you may feel drowsy and remember little afterwards.
• General anaesthetic makes you unconscious, so you are asleep and unaware. It is given in a hospital setting by an anaesthetic team, and is used when other options are not suitable.

Local anaesthetic is often still used alongside sedation so that the tooth and gum are numb.

Which option is suggested depends on you, your health and the treatment planned. Your dentist or the anaesthetic team should explain their reasons and the alternatives, including having treatment with local anaesthetic only.

Questions to ask before you agree

• Why is this option being suggested for me?
• What will I feel during and after treatment?
• Who will look after me, and how will I be monitored?
• Do I need someone to take me home and stay with me?
• What should I eat and drink beforehand, and when should I stop?
• Which of my usual medicines should I take on the day?

Preparing and recovering

Tell the team about your health conditions, any allergies, and the medicines you take. For a general anaesthetic you may have an assessment first. Afterwards it is common to feel drowsy, and judgement can be affected. People are usually advised to have a responsible adult with them, and to avoid driving, alcohol and important decisions for a period. Your team will give you exact instructions for your situation.

When to see a dentist

• Fear or past experiences are stopping you from getting treatment
• You are not sure which option suits you
• You are worried about side effects after treatment. Contact the team that looked after you.

Get urgent help now if swelling is spreading across your face or neck, or if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.

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Educational information. It does not replace advice from your dentist or doctor.