Sedation involves administering a sedative drug to induce relaxation. It’s important to distinguish between sedation and general anaesthesia. With sedation, you remain awake but feel drowsy and less aware of your surroundings. The sedative drugs do not numb the teeth, so a dental injection is still required. However, you’ll be in a more relaxed state before the teeth are numbed.

In certain sedation methods, such as administering the sedative drug midazolam through a vein, patients often have limited recollection of the treatment due to the sedative’s effects (which most patients find acceptable). Sedative drugs used in dental settings have high safety margins, and recovery is typically quicker compared to general anaesthesia. Additionally, the waiting list for sedation is generally shorter than that for general anaesthesia at hospitals.