Intravenous (IV) sedation is available to children over 6 years old at Happy Kids Dental
Bridging the gap between inhalation sedation and general anaesthetic, IV sedation is a safe and effective option for anxious patients. It helps children feel deeply relaxed during treatment and often means they have little or no memory of the procedure afterwards. At Happy Kids Dental, we may recommend IV sedation for more complex or longer treatments, for children with additional needs, or for those who feel particularly nervous about dental care.
This treatment is carried out here at our practice. It is a form of deep sedation, meaning your child will be very relaxed but not fully asleep. Your child’s well-being is always our top priority. We take the time to carefully explain all available options to both parents and children, using clear, age-appropriate language so everyone feels informed, reassured, and confident in their care.
IV Sedation at Happy Kids Dental
Available from your central London dentist, IV sedation is injected directly into a vein and combines anaesthetic (numbing), analgesic (pain relief) and sedative. As well as experiencing no pain, your child will feel relaxed and very sleepy, though they can be roused if the dentist needs to speak to them.
Their vital signs - heart rate, breathing, and oxygen level - will be monitored by sedationist throughout.
The added benefit of IV sedation is its amnesiac effect – this means, after treatment, your child will have little or no memory of the experience and will likely believe that they slept through the whole procedure.
To see if your child is a candidate for IV sedation - a 45min assessment with Consultant is booked.
Intravenous Sedation at HKD
This is when the pediatric dentist will be able to formulate a treatment plan and walk you through the IV process in great detail.
All IV sedations at Happy Kids Dental are provided by a dental sedationist and pediatric nurse who has more than 15 years of experience working with children.
The IV sedation process
1
On the day of intravenous sedation, we will reiterate the process and discuss any concerns you may have.
2
30 minutes before your appointment, we will place a numbing cream on the back of the hand, after which a small butterfly needle will be inserted while using VR glasses to distract the child. They will feel very relaxed and sleepy, and the treatment can start.
3
Your child will recover in a very relaxing and child-friendly room once the dental treatment has been completed. They will be observed for a brief period of time, and the child will be discharged by the sedation team.
We use The Wand (computer aided anaesthesia) for all of our sedations
This type of Anaesthesia is recognised by The American Association of Paediatric Dentistry as being the preferred method of providing pain relief to children. Please note that all of our dentists are trained in this technique.
A brief guide to Intravenous sedation at Happy Kids Dental
- You will be required to attend an initial consultation appointment where all your child’s treatment needs will be discussed and a written treatment plan formulated. At this appointment, we will assess whether your child is a suitable candidate for sedation.This appointment provides an ideal opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have or outline any concerns. To ensure you are completely comfortable with the process, we take our time to explain the entire procedure in detail. If you decide that intravenous sedation is the best option for your child, you will be required to sign a consent form confirming that you understand exactly what the procedure involves and agree to proceed with the treatment.
- After the consultation, when the treatment plan has been confirmed and sedation has been recommended, the next step is to book the procedure appointment under intravenous sedation. This could be held at Happy Kids Dental in Marylebone, Chelsea and Hammersmith branches.
- Although intravenous sedation at Happy Kids Dental is highly effective, it is important to remember that the success of the treatment depends on each child’s level of cooperation. We also recommend that no other children be brought to the treatment procedure.
Intravenous Sedation - Q&A
This treatment is available to children from the age of 6. Your child will be conscious (awake) throughout the procedure and will be able to talk to you and the dentist, but they will not remember the procedure itself afterwards. This can also help if they are afraid of injections.
Relaxed and sleepy (but not asleep), with a tingling sensation in the feet or hands.
Intravenous sedation takes a few minutes to take effect and will also require a 30–45 minute recovery period at the end. This option is for anxious children who would otherwise be unable to cope with dental treatment under lighter sedation.
The sessions are at least 90 minutes; your clinician will advise you how long the appointment will be depending on your child’s treatment needs.
Fasting is required. The fasting period is 4 hours, and it is paramount that you keep your child off any solids and liquids, including water. Failure to do so will jeopardise the safety of the sedation and may require rescheduling.
Numbing cream is administered 30 minutes before the procedure. In the meantime, the sedationist will check your child’s blood pressure, heart, and lungs.
Once the cream is effective, we will welcome the child into the surgery and place the cannula at the back of the hand while the child is distracted using VR glasses (e.g., scuba diving with turtles). Once the medication takes effect, your child will be relaxed. We will administer oxygen and monitor oxygen saturation.
Parents/legal guardians will be asked to wait in the waiting area once the sedation process has started and the child is asleep. You will be asked to remain on the premises during the procedure in case any changes to the treatment plan are required; in that event, you will be informed promptly.
All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will take them home following the procedure. The parent or guardian will be invited into the surgery when the child is recovering. The child will then be monitored by the paediatric nurse in the recovery area, and you will be informed once it is safe for discharge.
You will be required to drive home or use a taxi, as public transport is not a suitable option.
Many children experience dizziness, nausea, and emotional sensitivity, these are the most common side effects of intravenous sedation medication. There is usually no cause for concern.
We can arrange the procedure with a sedationist under intravenous sedation at one of our Happy Kids branches:
Chelsea - if this is your preferred location please contact our treatment coordinator directly for more details or to book a consultation with sara@happykidsdental.co.uk
Hammersmith - if this is your preferred location please contact our treatment coordinator directly for more details or to book a consultation with kseniia@happykidsdental.co.uk
Marylebone - if this is your preferred location please contact our treatment coordinator directly for more details or to book a consultation with sophie@happykidsdental.co.uk