Relaxed, not unconscious
You keep breathing on your own and can respond if spoken to, but you feel deeply relaxed and time seems to pass quickly. Many people remember very little.
HAYAT DENTAL · BROADWAY, SYDNEY
Sleep dentistry usually means IV sedation. You keep breathing on your own and feel deeply relaxed, and many people remember very little afterwards. Here’s what it involves, who it suits and how to prepare.
At our Broadway clinic
With Dr Abhishek Aggarwal
Medical review first
Before any recommendation
Written estimate
Before you book
Clear aftercare
Before and after instructions
The term explained
Most people who search for sleep dentistry want to be unaware of their treatment. In Australian dental practice the term most often refers to IV (intravenous) sedation, sometimes called twilight sedation.
You keep breathing on your own and can respond if spoken to, but you feel deeply relaxed and time seems to pass quickly. Many people remember very little.
The treatment area is numbed in the usual way. The sedation helps you stay calm and comfortable while that happens.
Being fully asleep is a general anaesthetic, carried out in a hospital or day-surgery setting. It’s one of several forms of sedation dentistry, alongside happy gas and IV sedation.
Is it for you?
IV sedation isn’t suitable for everyone. That’s why we review your full medical history before recommending anything. For some people a different approach, or treatment under general anaesthetic in hospital, is the safer choice.
Step by step
Every appointment is planned around you, but this is how a sleep dentistry visit usually runs.
01
At a separate appointment we go through your medical history, medications and the treatment you need. You get a written treatment plan and estimate before you book.
02
You receive written fasting and medication instructions, and you arrange a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you.
03
We confirm how you’re feeling and check your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels. A small cannula is placed in the back of your hand or arm.
04
The sedation is given through the cannula and adjusted as you go, with your breathing, heart rate and oxygen monitored the whole time. Once you’re relaxed, Dr Abhishek numbs the area with local anaesthetic and carries out your treatment.
05
You rest in the clinic until you’re ready to leave. Your escort takes you home, and we give them your aftercare instructions.
Before your appointment
Good preparation is part of keeping you safe. Always follow the written instructions you’re given.
01
As a general guide, this usually means no food for about six hours beforehand and only small sips of water until about two hours before.
02
Take or pause medications only as we advise, and tell us about supplements and anything another doctor prescribed.
03
A responsible adult needs to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours afterwards.
04
Wear clothes with sleeves that roll up easily, and leave jewellery and valuables at home.
05
Plan to take the rest of the day off work or study.
06
Let us know before the appointment if you feel unwell, have a cold or think you might be pregnant.
After treatment
Most people feel drowsy for a few hours, and memory of the appointment is often patchy. The sedation can affect judgement and coordination for longer than you might expect.
Rest at home
Plan a quiet rest of the day, with your escort staying with you for 24 hours.
For 24 hours, avoid
Driving, cycling or operating machinery, drinking alcohol, signing legal or financial documents, and caring for young children on your own.
Eating and aftercare
Eat soft food once the numbness wears off and follow the aftercare for your treatment. If anything worries you, call the clinic on 02 9030 0247.
Safety
IV sedation is widely used in dentistry and is generally very safe for suitable patients who are properly assessed and monitored. Safety comes from a full medical review beforehand, a qualified sedation provider, continuous monitoring during treatment, and you following the preparation and recovery instructions. No sedation is completely free of risk, so we explain the risks that apply to you at your consultation.
Planning and costs
Every sleep dentistry plan is different, because it depends on the treatment you need and how long it takes. After your consultation you receive a written estimate, so you know where you stand before you book. We’re happy to help you check what your health fund may cover.
MEET THE TEAM
Sleep dentistry at Hayat Dental is carried out at our Broadway clinic by Dr Abhishek Aggarwal, with your sedation monitored throughout by a qualified sedation provider.
15+
years’ experience for Dr Abhishek
3
clinicians under one roof
Not sure who to see?
Tell us what’s bothering you and we’ll book the right clinician.
Meet the whole team
Dentist · BDS, GDD Implants
More than 15 years of dental experience across Sydney, with interests in implant dentistry, oral surgery, full-mouth rehabilitation and cosmetic dentistry.
Dental implants
Wisdom teeth
Cosmetic
REAL PATIENT CASES
Before
AfterImplant, crowns and Invisalign with sedationAn implant, crowns and Invisalign under IV sedation for a nervous patientAbout 12 months
Before
AfterWhitening and porcelain crownsRestoring a dark front tooth before a family weddingAbout 1 month
Before
AfterSix crownsSix crowns to replace stained, 15-year-old dental workAbout 3 weeksA corporate finance professional had severely worn teeth and a fear of needles that had kept him from treatment. His implant, crowns and Invisalign were completed under IV sedation over about 12 months, so he could have the work done comfortably.
Photos of real Hayat Dental patients, published with consent. Individual results vary.
Your questions
Still unsure? Our team can talk it through with you.
Call 02 9030 0247Not fully. With IV sedation you stay breathing on your own and can respond, but you feel deeply relaxed and many people remember little. Being completely unconscious is a general anaesthetic in hospital.
The treatment area is numbed with local anaesthetic, just as in a normal appointment. The sedation helps you stay relaxed while that happens.
Many people remember very little, though some recall parts of it. Everyone responds a little differently.
You’ll feel drowsy for a few hours, but the effects on judgement and coordination last longer. Plan to rest for the rest of the day.
Sleep dentistry is carried out at our Broadway clinic by Dr Abhishek Aggarwal, with your sedation monitored throughout.
Often, yes. Combining treatment is one of the main reasons people choose sedation, and we plan it at your consultation.
It depends on the treatment you need. After your consultation you receive a written estimate, so you know where you stand before you book.
Explore related care
If your main concern is feeling nervous rather than the treatment itself, you may not need sedation at all. Gentle care for anxious patients, with every step explained and comfort options in the room, is often enough.
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
Send an enquiry and our team will contact you. To book an appointment, use our online booking portal. For urgent availability, please call the clinic.
