Three Rivers Dental Group offers sedation dentistry for patients who experience dental anxiety, have a strong gag reflex, require lengthy or complex procedures, or have simply avoided the dentist for years due to fear. Our experienced team administers carefully calibrated sedation — ranging from mild oral sedation to deeper options — so that treatment can be completed safely, comfortably, and often in fewer appointments than would otherwise be possible. Patients remain monitored throughout and typically report little to no memory of the procedure, waking to find their treatment already complete.
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Most patients at Three Rivers Dental Group receive conscious sedation, meaning you remain technically awake and able to respond to instructions, but you will feel deeply relaxed and largely unaware of the procedure taking place. General anaesthesia (full unconsciousness) is a separate and less commonly required option; your dentist will discuss which level of sedation is appropriate for your specific needs and medical history during your assessment appointment.
Oral sedation typically takes between four and six hours to fully clear your system, and IV sedation may take slightly longer depending on the dosage used. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for the remainder of the day — driving, operating machinery, or making important decisions while sedation is still active is not safe and is strictly advised against by our clinical team.
Sedation dentistry is safe for the vast majority of patients, including those with controlled conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or anxiety disorders — but a thorough medical history review is essential before any sedation is administered. At Three Rivers Dental Group, every patient undergoes a detailed pre-sedation assessment so that the type and dosage of sedation can be precisely matched to your health profile, minimising risk and maximising comfort throughout your treatment.