IV sedation in BrisbaneYou don't have to be brave for this.

A gentle sedative through a small drip in your arm. Most people feel deeply relaxed, lose track of time and remember little of their treatment afterwards. An anaesthetist stays with you from start to finish.

However long it has been, you'll get no judgement here. Just a calm conversation.

  • Watched overAn anaesthetist and full monitoring throughout
  • Day surgeryIn Chermside, home the same day
  • Clear guide pricesSedation included, shown below
What does it feel like?

The short answer

What is IV sedation?

IV sedation is a calming medicine given through a small drip in your arm or hand. It places you in a deeply relaxed, drowsy state for your treatment. You're not fully asleep and can still respond when spoken to, but most people remember little of the appointment afterwards.

You may also hear it called twilight sedation. It sits between being fully awake and being fully asleep under a general anaesthetic.

How it feels

Heavy, calm and drowsy. You can still respond, and most people remember little.

Afterwards

Rest in recovery, then someone takes you home. No driving for 24 hours.

Often chosen for

Real dental fear, longer visits, wisdom teeth and implants.

Tap each level to compareIV or fully asleep?
  • 01

    How it's given

    Through a small drip in your arm or hand, placed once you're settled in the chair.

  • 02

    How you'll feel

    Calm, heavy and drowsy. Time tends to pass quickly, and most people recall very little.

  • 03

    Who looks after you

    An anaesthetist gives the sedation and watches your breathing, heart rate and oxygen the whole time.

  • 04

    Afterwards

    You rest in recovery, then someone you trust takes you home. No driving for 24 hours.

What it feels like

What does IV sedation feel like?

For many people, the biggest question isn't about the dentistry. It's about how the sedation itself will feel. Here's what most people describe, moment by moment.

  1. Before it starts

    A calm hello, at your pace

    You sit back in a comfortable chair and meet the team looking after you. We talk you through what's about to happen, and we start when you're ready.

  2. The drip

    A quick pinch, then it's done

    A small drip goes into the back of your hand or your arm. It takes a moment, and once it's in, you don't need to look at it again.

  3. The first minute or two

    Your shoulders start to drop

    Most people notice a warm, heavy feeling spreading through them. Breathing slows. The things that were worrying you start to feel far away.

  4. During treatment

    Deeply relaxed and drowsy

    You may drift in and out, and you can still respond if the team asks you something. Time tends to pass very quickly. Most people remember very little.

  5. Waking up

    Resting while it wears off

    You rest in recovery while the sedation eases. Many people feel a little sleepy, and surprised that it's already over.

  6. Later that day

    Home to rest

    Someone you trust takes you home to rest for the rest of the day. No driving, no big decisions, just a quiet afternoon.

Things people often ask us

Tap a question to see the answer.

Most people feel a small, quick pinch, a bit like a blood test. If needles bother you, tell us early. We'll take it slowly and talk you through ways to make it easier.

That's completely okay, and more common than you'd think. Nobody will rush you or make you feel silly. We can pause, talk, and go again when you're ready.

Most people are quiet and drowsy. If you do chat, the team has heard it all before, and it stays in the room. It's one of the most common things people ask.

Yes. You'll need someone to take you home afterwards anyway, and they're welcome to come with you on the day. Ask us about them staying close while you settle in.

Something else on your mind? We'd rather you asked.Ask us anything

Treatments under IV sedation

All of this can happen while you rest.

  • Dental implants

    New teeth that stay put, placed while you're deeply relaxed. A single tooth, or several at once.

    About implants
  • A full arch of new teeth

    When most of the teeth in a jaw can't be saved, a fixed full set can replace them. Often called All-on-X, and done with IV sedation or fully asleep, whichever suits you.

    About full arch
  • Wisdom teeth & difficult extractions

    Removed while you rest. Often all four wisdom teeth in one appointment, plus the tricky removals that belong in a surgical setting.

    About wisdom teeth
  • Everything, in one go

    Years of put-off dental work, sorted in one relaxed appointment wherever possible.

    How that works
  • Full mouth rehabilitation

    A complete, carefully planned rebuild, done in as few relaxed visits as we can manage.

    About full mouth care

Not sure which you need? At your consultation we'll tell you exactly what yours would look like, in writing, before you decide anything.

Your safety

Who's looking after you

While Dr Niels looks after your teeth, an anaesthetist's only job is looking after you. They give the sedation, stay by your side the whole time, and watch every breath and heartbeat on a monitor like this one.

MonitoringContinuous

Heart rate and rhythm

A sensor tracks every heartbeat, so any change in your heart's rate or rhythm is seen straight away.

Illustration only. Tap each reading to see what it means.

  • Your dentist

    Dr Niels Kirsten (Dentist)

    Plans your treatment with you, then carries it out while you rest. You'll meet him at your consultation first.

  • Your anaesthetist

    [Anaesthetist name]

    A medical doctor who gives your sedation and does nothing else during your treatment but watch over you.

  • Your day surgery

    [Facility name], Chermside

    A day surgery built for procedures like this, with a recovery area and nurses who stay with you until you're ready to go home.

Meet the people looking after you

Come in for a consultation. Ask anything, see the space, and decide in your own time.

Cost and ways to pay

What will it cost?

Our guide prices include your sedation, so you can plan around a realistic number from the start. Choose a treatment to see a guide price.

1. Choose a treatment

2. Tell us a little more

One guide price covers removing two to four wisdom teeth in a single appointment, with your sedation included.

Guide priceSedation included

$2,700Two to four wisdom teeth

  • Treatment and sedation, one appointment$2,700

Guide price only, in AUD. After your exam and 3D scan, you'll get a fixed written quote before you decide anything.

Payment plans

Spread the cost with Humm. We'll walk you through the options at your consultation.

Using your super

SuperCare can help you apply to use your super for treatment, if you're eligible.

Health funds

Your fund may cover part of your treatment. We'll give you the item numbers to check.

Dr Niels Kirsten Principal dentist

Your dentist

Dr Niels Kirsten (Dentist)

Principal dentist and founder

An experienced dental surgeon, with a calm, unhurried way of working.

Dr Niels is the principal dentist here, with a focus on dental implants and oral surgery. He has worked in public dental care, private practice and now surgical dentistry under sedation, and he plans every treatment around what you're comfortable with.

  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Diploma of Implantology
  • AHPRA reg. [DEN0000000000]
Reach out — Brisbane Sedation Dentistry

Reach out

Want to enquire, or just find out more?

Send a question, any question. A real person reads it and gets back to you. No follow-up calls you did not ask for, and no pressure to book anything.

Or call us on (07) XXXX XXXX

Outside hours, the chat in the corner can answer most questions straight away.

We reply within one business day.

Ways to pay — Brisbane Sedation Dentistry

Ways to pay

More than one way to pay for it.

You will always have a fixed written quote, with item numbers, before anything is booked. When it comes to paying, these are the options we work with.

  • SuperCare

    For eligible patients, SuperCare manages the application to access superannuation for approved dental treatment, including the paperwork with the ATO.

    Eligibility criteria apply

  • Humm

    Instalment payment plans for dental treatment, with interest-free options available. You will know the full cost of your treatment before you commit to anything.

    Subject to approval · terms apply

  • Health funds & Medicare

    Some surgical items attract Medicare or health fund rebates. Your quote includes the item numbers, so you can check exactly what your fund pays before you decide.

    Depends on your cover

Every option has its own terms and approval process, and we will walk you through what applies to you. Accessing superannuation early affects your retirement savings, so we recommend independent financial advice before going down that path.

Questions

IV sedation questions, answered

The things people most often ask us before their first visit.

Still wondering about something?

Ask us anything. There's no such thing as a silly question here.

Not fully. IV sedation places you in a deeply relaxed, drowsy state. You can still respond if the team speaks to you, but most people drift in and out and remember very little of their treatment afterwards. If you'd rather be completely asleep, a general anaesthetic is also an option.

Your sedation is given by an anaesthetist, who stays with you for the whole treatment and watches your heart rate, oxygen, blood pressure and breathing throughout. We also go through your health history and medicines carefully beforehand. Like any medical procedure, there are some risks, and Dr Niels will talk them through with you at your consultation.

Our guide prices include your sedation. For example, removing two to four wisdom teeth is a guide price of $2,700, all in. You'll get a fixed written quote after your exam and 3D scan, before you decide anything.

Your fund may cover part of your treatment, depending on your level of cover. We'll give you the item numbers so you can check with them. Payment plans through Humm and using your super through SuperCare are also options.

Most people rest in recovery for a couple of hours, then go home with someone they trust. You can't drive for 24 hours, and most people feel like themselves again by the next day.

You'll need to stop eating for a few hours beforehand. We'll give you clear written instructions with the exact times, so there's no guesswork.

Most people feel a small, quick pinch when the drip goes in, a bit like a blood test. Tell us early if needles worry you. We'll take it slowly and talk you through ways to make it easier.

Often, yes. Many people use IV sedation to catch up on years of dental work in as few appointments as possible. We'll plan exactly what's possible for you at your consultation.

Still wondering about something?

Ask us anything. There's no such thing as a silly question here.