Important — You Must Have Read This Before Your Appointment
This leaflet contains important safety information that applies before and after your sedation appointment. If you have not read this before attending, please read it now.
Before your sedation appointment, you must:
Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to the appointment and escort you home. You must not travel alone by public transport.
Arrange for someone to stay with you for the rest of the day and ideally overnight after the procedure.
Not drive a car or ride a bicycle on the day of your appointment — even if you feel fine.
Not operate machinery or power tools on the day of your appointment.
Not drink alcohol for 24 hours before sedation.
Follow any specific fasting instructions given to you by your dentist. For IV sedation, this typically means no solid food for at least 6 hours before your appointment. Your dentist will advise you on clear fluids — some protocols permit small sips of water up to 2 hours beforehand, but follow their specific guidance exactly.
After Your Sedation — How You May Feel
Sedation affects people differently. Most people feel fine relatively quickly, but the effects can be subtle and last longer than you might expect.
Drowsiness is the most common effect and can persist for several hours after IV sedation, even when you feel alert.
You may have patchy or no memory of the procedure — this is the intended effect of the sedation medication and is completely normal. The amnesia (memory gap) can extend to the period shortly after the appointment.
You may feel unsteady on your feet — take your time getting up and moving, and ensure your escort supports you.
Some people feel emotional or tearful after sedation — this is a common and temporary effect of the medication.
You may feel nauseous — avoid eating heavily straight after the appointment. Sip water and eat only when you feel ready.
For inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide): the effects wear off within minutes of removing the mask. Your dentist will confirm when you are ready to leave — once cleared, you do not typically require an escort for the journey home. However, your dentist may still recommend one depending on your circumstances. Always follow their advice.
The 24-Hour Rules — Please Take These Seriously
Even when you feel completely normal, the sedation medication remains in your system for up to 24 hours and can affect your judgement and reaction times without you being aware.
For 24 hours after IV sedation, you must NOT:
Drive a car, motorcycle, or bicycle — this is a legal requirement
Operate machinery, power tools, or any potentially dangerous equipment
Make important personal, financial, or legal decisions — your judgement may be impaired
Sign legal documents
Cook unsupervised using a hob or oven
Drink alcohol
Take sleeping tablets or other sedative medications unless prescribed by your doctor
Be left alone — you must have a responsible adult with you
Eating, Drinking, and Rest
Give your body the rest it needs to recover fully from the sedation.
Go home and rest. Avoid strenuous activity for the remainder of the day.
Start with small amounts of food and drink — sipping water and then moving to light foods (soup, toast, yoghurt) is usually best.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
Any post-operative care instructions for the dental procedure performed (e.g. tooth extraction or implant surgery) still apply — please refer to the relevant aftercare leaflet for that procedure.
If you feel tired, sleep — your body is recovering.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Serious complications after dental sedation are rare, but your escort should know what to watch for.
Call 999 immediately if you experience:
Difficulty breathing or changes in breathing rate
Inability to be roused from sleep or extreme unresponsiveness
A seizure or fit
Severe confusion or disorientation that is worsening rather than improving
Chest pain
Severe allergic reaction (rash, swelling of lips or throat, difficulty breathing)
For other concerns following sedation — such as prolonged nausea, unexpected pain, or anything that worries you or your escort — call NHS 111 for immediate advice, any time of day or night.
This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dentist will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you or your escort notice difficulty breathing, confusion, extreme drowsiness, a seizure, or inability to be roused after returning home. For other concerns following sedation, call NHS 111 for immediate advice.
References
Aligned with guidance from: SDCEP sedation guidelines, FGDP(UK), IACSD (Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry).