Dental phobia is common — here's how sedation actually helps

Dental fear, dental anxiety, odontophobia — whatever you call it, it's more common than you'd think, and there's a real solution for it.

Dental fear goes by a lot of names — dental anxiety, dentist phobia, odontophobia — but they all describe the same thing: enough fear of dental treatment that it changes your behaviour. Roughly 4 in 10 UK adults report some anxiety about seeing a dentist, and around 1 in 10 avoid treatment altogether because of it. That's a lot of people quietly living with problems that would otherwise be straightforward to fix.

What intravenous sedation actually does

Intravenous (IV) sedation — also called conscious sedation — takes you to the edge of sleep through a cannula in your arm or hand, administered and monitored by an experienced sedationist throughout. You stay able to follow simple instructions like 'open your mouth', but the anxiety that usually comes with treatment is switched off. Time distorts too — a longer procedure often feels like it took a couple of minutes. It's suitable for the full range of treatments, including implants.

Before your appointment

• Eat a light meal beforehand.
• Tell us if you have a blocked nose — we may need to give you oxygen during treatment.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing so we can fit a blood pressure cuff.
• Skip the nail varnish — we'll need to see your nail beds during monitoring.
• Arrange for someone to bring you and take you home — you'll feel lightheaded afterwards.

After your appointment

• Have someone with you at home for a few hours.
• Avoid stairs where possible, and follow any aftercare instructions we give you.
• Don't plan meetings or big decisions for the rest of the day.

Possible side effects include nausea, bruising at the injection site, lightheadedness and a numb mouth — all temporary. If dental anxiety has been keeping you from treatment you need, a short consultation is the way to find out whether sedation is the right fit for you.