Tablet, mask, or drip? The three types of sedation at Kissdental, and how to pick yours

Kissdental in Flixton offers three types of dental sedation: oral sedation as a tablet, nitrous oxide breathed through a mask, and IV sedation given through a small drip. Each delivers a different depth of calm, and the right one depends on your anxiety level, the treatment, and how you want to feel. As of September 2026, all three are available across the Greater Manchester clinics.

Most people don’t realise there’s a choice at all. They picture one thing, being “knocked out”, and either dread it or assume it isn’t for them.

Neither is quite right. Let me walk you through what each option actually does.

First, a quick myth to clear

None of these three send you to sleep. That’s general anaesthetic, which is a different thing done in hospital.

With sedation, you stay conscious. You can respond, you can hear the team, and you can tell them if you need a pause. What changes is your anxiety. It drops away, sometimes to the point where you barely register the appointment happening. That distinction trips up a lot of nervous patients, so it’s worth saying plainly before anything else.

The three options side by side

Here’s the practical comparison, the bit most people come looking for.

Oral sedation, in plain terms

This is the gentlest entry point. You take a tablet a while before your appointment, and by the time you’re in the chair, the edge has come off. You feel drowsy and relaxed but stay aware throughout.

It suits people whose nerves are real but manageable, and anyone who dislikes the idea of a needle or mask to begin with. The trade-off is that the effect isn’t adjustable once the tablet’s taken, and you’ll need someone to bring you and take you home, since you shouldn’t drive for the rest of the day.

Nitrous oxide, the flexible middle ground

Nitrous oxide, sometimes called happy air, is a mix of gas and oxygen breathed through a small mask over your nose. It works within minutes, produces a light floating calm, and wears off almost as quickly once the mask comes off.

The clever part is control. The level can be dialled up or down in real time, so it can be tuned to exactly how you’re feeling on the day. That responsiveness, plus the fast recovery, makes it a popular choice for nervous children and for shorter procedures where you’d rather drive yourself home afterwards.

IV sedation, for the deepest calm

IV sedation is the strongest of the three. A small cannula goes into the back of your hand, and Dr Solanki gives the sedative slowly until you reach deep relaxation. You stay conscious, but the medication affects short-term memory, so most patients remember very little of the appointment even though they were awake the whole time.

This is the option that finally makes treatment possible for people with severe phobia, and it’s well suited to long or complex appointments such as implant placement. You’ll need a responsible adult to escort you home and shouldn’t drive or make important decisions for 24 hours.

Why the person matters as much as the method

Sedation is only as good as the hands delivering it. Dr Kailesh Solanki is Dental Phobia Certified and qualified in both IV and oral sedation, with a chair-side manner patients describe as informal and relaxed. Associate dentist Dr Satnam Poonia is also IV sedation certified.

Throughout any sedated appointment, your oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure are monitored, and a full medical history is taken first, because some conditions and medicines affect which sedation is suitable. None of this is rushed. Kissdental’s whole approach is built on going at the patient’s pace.

How to choose

You don’t have to decide alone, and you don’t have to decide today. The honest route is a conversation. Tell the team how you feel about the dentist, what treatment you’re facing, and any practical constraints, like needing to drive home. From there, the right level of calm usually becomes obvious.

If you’ve avoided care for years, sedation is often the thing that finally lets you clear the backlog in comfort.

FAQ

Which type of dental sedation is best for severe anxiety?
For severe phobia, IV sedation usually offers the deepest, most reliable calm, and because it affects short-term memory, many patients recall little of the appointment afterwards. At Kissdental in Flixton, Dr Solanki is Dental Phobia Certified and IV sedation qualified. A consultation confirms whether IV, or a gentler option, suits your situation best.

Can children have sedation at the dentist?
Yes, and nitrous oxide is usually the option of choice for nervous children. It’s a light gas breathed through a small nose mask, works within minutes, can be adjusted in real time, and wears off quickly. Dr Solanki has a particular focus on treating anxious children and will only proceed after a calm chat and a full check of suitability.

Will I feel any pain under sedation?
Sedation calms your anxiety rather than numbing the tooth, so local anaesthetic is still used to numb the area being treated. The two work together. Most patients feel little or nothing, and with IV sedation in particular, remember very little afterwards. Dr Solanki explains exactly what to expect for your specific treatment beforehand.

Can I drive home after sedation?
It depends on the type. After nitrous oxide, most people can drive following a short rest at the clinic. After oral or IV sedation, you cannot drive and will need a responsible adult to bring you and take you home, avoiding driving for the rest of the day, or 24 hours after IV. Confirm this with the team when you book.

Is dental sedation safe?
Yes, in trained, certified hands. At Kissdental, sedation is delivered by clinicians qualified to provide it, your vital signs are monitored throughout, and a full medical history is taken in advance to flag anything that might make a particular option unsuitable. Dr Solanki talks you through the plan and only begins when you’re ready.

What to do next

If fear or nerves have kept you away, the first step is just a phone call, and you don’t need to have it all worked out before you ring. Call Kissdental in Flixton on 0161 871 9426. The team are used to helping anxious patients and will talk you through which level of calm fits you.

You can read more about the practice’s dental phobia certification, explore dental implants where sedation often helps, or get in touch through the contact page.