Overview
Intravenous sedation for young people having dental treatment
Sedation is sometimes given to children and young people during dental treatment.
It is medicine that makes you feel sleepy, and relaxes you physically and mentally.
Sedation can help keep you calm if you feel anxious, worried, or scared about your treatment.
Sedation that is given through a tiny plastic tube into a vein in your arm or hand is called intravenous (IV) sedation. It makes you feel deeply relaxed, so you feel calm and comfortable during your treatment.
You will be awake during treatment, and can talk to the dentist.
Many people do not remember much about their treatment.
It is important that you know how to prepare for your sedation, and how you will recover.
Having IV sedation
Before you have IV sedation, the dentist will ask questions about your health.
They will also check:
- your height
- weight
- blood pressure, using a sleeve that wraps around your arm
- the oxygen in your blood, using a light clip on your finger
Your dentist will explain your planned treatment, and check that you understand what will happen.
They will put a cream on the back of your hand or arm to make it go numb. Some people are asked to do this at home before coming to their appointment.
A small plastic tube will be put into the numb part of your arm or hand.
The dentist will then give the sedation slowly through this tube, and will ask you to relax.
When you are relaxed, the dentist will use pain relief that numbs the area of your mouth being treated.
The dental team will monitor your breathing, blood pressure and oxygen level during your treatment.
Your parent or guardian will be with you until the sedation is given. They will then usually wait for you outside during your treatment.
Preparing for sedation
You can talk about your treatment and sedation with your dentist. Nothing will happen until you and your parent or guardian understand and agree to what is planned.
Your parent or guardian needs to be with you on the day of your treatment. They will sign the consent form, and will also need to take you home after your treatment, and stay with you at least until that evening.
We will need to cancel your treatment if you do not arrange for a responsible adult (over 18 years old) to take you home.
Information for parents or guardians
Sedation can cause some people to feel disorientated or confused for a short time after the treatment.
It is important that someone will be responsible for them, and take care of them for the day. Sometimes, they might need someone to stay with them overnight.
It is important that you follow these instructions. You will have been given a phone number to contact if you have any concerns.
Some people take a little longer than others to be ready to go home, so please be aware that an exact time cannot be given.
The day of your sedation
If you have a cold or feel unwell before your treatment, you or your parent or guardian will need to tell the dentist. This is because you need to be as healthy as possible for treatment.
If you think you might be pregnant, please let the dentist know. You might need to come back to have your treatment at another time. Remember, you can always ask to speak to your dentist in private.
Please arrive for your appointment on time, as we might not be able to see you if you arrive late.
Your medicines will be reviewed before your appointment. You should take your regular medicines as usual unless you are told not to.
Let your dentist or nurse know if you have allergies to any medicines.
Eating and drinking before IV sedation
The instructions you should follow on eating and drinking before your appointment depend on what treatment you are having.
You can usually have a light meal up to 2 hours before your appointment, and sip water up until the time of the appointment.
Your dentist will explain what you can eat and drink before your appointment and whether you should take painkillers.
You or your parent or guardian will be given this information in writing. It is important that you follow these instructions carefully.
What to bring to your appointment
- Leave anything you do not need at home. This includes jewellery or anything you might wear on your wrists, or keep in your pockets.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes.
- If you wear contact lenses, you might need to take them out. Bring your glasses or spare lenses to wear after the appointment.
- Do not wear lots of makeup or any nail polish, gel or false nails to the appointment as it can get in the way of the equipment.
- If you have a mobile phone, you will be asked to turn this off before you have IV sedation.
After having IV sedation
At the end of your treatment, you will be taken to a recovery area until you feel better.
You will still feel sleepy, and many people feel unsteady and forgetful.
For these reasons, you cannot leave hospital until you have been checked by the dentist or dental nurse. When they are happy that you have recovered, they will let you go home.
You cannot go home on your own. Your parent, guardian or other responsible adult will need to stay with you for the rest of the day while you rest.
Before you go home, you or your parent or guardian will be given information about pain relief, and how and when to take any of your regular medicines.
You will be given information about your treatment, and a phone number to contact if you have any questions.
When you go home
You might feel sick or sleepy (drowsy) after sedation.
You might have a small bruise where the plastic tube was.
Your mouth might still feel numb or tingly for up to 3 hours. You will need to be careful not to bite your lip or cheek while it is numb.
Do
- rest at home until the next day
- be careful if you need to cook or use any appliances
- be careful what you post on social media or message people. You might be confused and say things you would not usually say.
Do not
- do not to anything too active, like riding a bike or playing energetic sports, until the next day
- do not be responsible for other people when you go home, until the next day
- do not drive a vehicle, or ride a bicycle until the next day
- do not drink alcohol until the next day
Risks of IV sedation
IV sedation can slow down your breathing. You will be monitored carefully during your treatment so that you can be given oxygen through a mask, if you need it. The dentist might ask you to take deep breaths.
You might have some bruising on your hand or arm after the injection. This should go after a few days.
There is a risk that the sedation will not work properly. If this happens, the dentist will stop and talk about other options.
Some people are allergic to the sedation medicine, or are sick during treatment. This does not happen often.
Your medical team will speak to you about risks in more detail when you sign the consent form.
You can watch an animation about IV sedation, made by the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Support and more information
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have created some animations that you might find helpful.
Paediatric intravenous sedation for dentistry - for children
Paediatric intravenous sedation for dentistry - for children, with British Sign Language
Paediatric intravenous sedation for dentistry - for parents, guardians and carers
Resource number: 5013/VER2
Last reviewed: July 2026
Next review due: July 2029
