How can sedation help?
At Castle Hill Dental care, we offer 2 forms of conscious sedation. Unlike general anaesthetic in a major hospital, you will be full capable of responding to the dentist throughout your treatment.
- Comfort: sedation helps to provide relief from anxiety and discomfort during long or complex procedures to make it more positive experience for you.
- Safety: our dentists are highly trained to provide dental treatment and inhalation sedation to ensure you are calm and relaxed. This helps to reduce the risk of injuries for both you and your dentist.
- Efficiency: under conscious sedation, you can often have several or all necessary dental treatment completed in one appointment so you can get on with your life sooner!

IV Sedation
This form of sedation induces a more dream-like state compared to inhalation and is administered by our fully qualified IV sedationist. However, similar to inhalation, patients are still fully capable of hearing and responding to questions.
Typically, patients under IV sedation will “wake-up” and have no recollection the procedure itself or feel like no time has passed.
Although IV sedation is an effective sedation method, it is not recommended for
- Pregnant women
- Patients with glaucoma
- Patients with lung or kidney problems
- Elderly patients
- Patients with any existing allergies to sedative agents
Unlike inhalation sedation, IV sedation typically requires several hours before you can completely return to normal. An escort home and down time after your appointment is always recommended for patients opting to have IV sedation. However, the recovery is not as unpleasant of general anaesthasia (GA).

Inhalation Sedation
Our dentists are highly trained to administer inhalation, otherwise known as “laughing gas”. It is a safe and effective agent administered through a mask that fits over your nose.
It can help you relax and stay comfortable whilst ensuring you are still fully capable of hearing and responding to your dentist.
Inhalation is increasingly popular with both children and adults as it only requires a few short minutes to take effect and wear off!


Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be unconscious during IV sedation?
No. Unlike General Anaesthesia, you won’t be unconscious. You will still be able to breathe on your own, hear and responding to any questions and notify us of any discomfort.
You will, however, experience a deeper state of relaxation and many of our patients on IV sedation find that they don’t remember the procedure afterwards.
How long will I be sedated for?
The length of time you will need to be sedated will depend on the length of time required for your dental treatment. Your dentist will be able to give you an approximate time frame so you can estimate costs and arrange transport to and from your appointment if undertaking IV sedation.
Are there any long term effects of sedation?
There are no proven long term effects from intermittent use of sedation. Some of our patients may feel ‘groggy’ and tired after their appointment if undergoing IV sedation but fully recover within 24 hours. Be sure to inform our trained IV specialist regarding any current or past health conditions and medications that may affect treatment.
Are there any special instructions pre sedation that I need to be aware of before my appointment?
If you are undertaking inhalation sedation, there are no special pre or post-treatment instructions. Onset will occur within minutes of administration and disappear within minutes of removing the mask.
If you are undertaking IV sedation, patients should refrain from eating or drinking at least 6 hours before your appointment and must complete a detailed medical history form prior to your appointment. Complete written instructions will also be provided prior to your appointment.