Dental Inhalation Sedation: Before, During and Going Home

If inhalation sedation has been offered for dental treatment, ask the team to explain how the appointment will work before arranging your day. You may want to know whether you will be awake and how to tell the dentist if something feels uncomfortable.

Before: confirm your own preparation

Guy’s asks patients to report a cold, feeling unwell or possible pregnancy before treatment. Its clinic reviews medicines and allergies and advises a light meal without fasting.¹

Request the instructions from the service treating you. Have the team explain any medicine directions that differ from your usual prescription before making a change yourself. If two letters disagree about eating or drinking, contact the clinic for clarification.

Ask whether an adult must accompany you and how to arrange the trip home. Guy’s says the dentist decides whether an accompanying adult is needed.¹

During: understand the mask and communication

At Guy’s, a mask sits over the nose while gas is introduced gradually. The team monitors breathing and relaxation. Dizziness or light-headedness can occur; tell the team about discomfort. Oxygen is given at the end.¹

Before treatment starts, agree on how to get the dentist’s attention. Ask the team to explain the planned dental work and whether local anesthetic is expected. Describe the part of the appointment you find difficult so they can discuss it with you.

After: wait for the discharge check

Guy’s checks patients before discharge because they may feel unsteady. For two hours afterward it advises against driving, cycling, machinery, cooking or hot liquids, important decisions and caring for dependants.¹

Get the restrictions for your own appointment in writing. Arrange transport and help with responsibilities around those instructions. Ask separately about aftercare for the dental procedure itself, including when to contact the service about a problem.

Follow-up: leave with the next step

Ask whether another appointment is needed, how it will be booked and whom to call if the agreed message has not arrived. Keep the booking details with the discharge instructions. Request clarification before leaving if you are unsure which instructions apply to sedation and which apply to the dental work.

Is It My Breath? includes a visit script. Use it to organize appointment questions alongside the instructions from your dental team.