What IV sedation is
IV (intravenous) sedation is given through a small line in the hand or arm. It is conscious sedation: you stay awake enough to breathe on your own and respond when spoken to, but you are deeply relaxed and drowsy, and many patients remember little of the appointment afterwards.
It is not general anaesthesia, and you are not put to sleep. Local anaesthetic is still used to numb the area being treated; the sedation takes care of the anxiety, not the pain.
Who it is for
Patients whose anxiety has kept them away from the dentist, sometimes for years, and who would otherwise put off treatment they need. Sedation lets that work be done calmly.
It is also used for wisdom tooth removal, where a surgical extraction is a long appointment to sit through fully alert.
Before and after
Whether sedation is suitable is decided at an assessment beforehand, which covers your medical history and the treatment planned. Because the effects take time to wear off, you will need someone to take you home afterwards, and you will be given full instructions before the appointment.