Dental Sedation in Plymouth
We offer tailored Dental Sedation options at Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre in Plymouth, including “Laughing Gas” and Intravenous (IV) sedation.
Dental anxiety is incredibly common. According to the NHS, one in four of us dreads visiting the dentist.
Never let anxiety compromise your health again. Regain control of your smile with completely pain-free, stress-free dentistry.
Our Principal Dentist, Dr Lenore Bronkhorst (GDC No: 69251), is an internationally trained Cosmetic Dentist who has just celebrated 40 years in dentistry.
Dr Bronkhorst has a special interest in sedation for nervous patients.
From our state-of-the-art clinic near Mutley Plain, we serve patients from across Ocean City, including Plympton, Plymstock, Stoke Village and Derriford, and are conveniently located for those travelling from Saltash, Torpoint and Ivybridge.
IV Sedation Dentist Plymouth
Inhalation Sedation (“Laughing Gas”) to help you relax.
Intravenous Sedation (“IV”) for deep comfort.
If fear of the dentist has kept you away for years, our Dental Sedation service is designed to help you finally get the treatment you need in a calm, controlled way. We offer tailored sedation options so you can choose the level of relaxation that feels right for you.
Your journey starts with a one‑hour comprehensive examination, during which our Principal Dentist, Dr Lenore Bronkhorst, an internationally trained cosmetic dentist with over 40 years’ experience and advanced training in dental anaesthetics, will listen to your concerns, assess your teeth and gums, and explain your sedation options. You stay in control at every step, and we never judge how long it has been since your last visit.
For milder anxiety or shorter appointments, “Laughing Gas” helps you feel relaxed, floaty and unconcerned while remaining awake and responsive. For more complex treatment or severe dental phobia, IV sedation creates a deeper, dream‑like state where you are still conscious but unlikely to remember much of the visit. Throughout, we continuously monitor your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure for your safety.
If you are ready to fix your teeth without fear, contact our friendly Plymouth team today to book your no‑obligation dental sedation consultation.
Transform your smile
Contact us today to book a no-obligation consultation.
Dental Sedation cost Plymouth
We believe in clear, transparent pricing for all our anaesthetic services. Our “Laughing Gas” (RA) sedation starts from £250 per session, whilst our IV sedation starts from £350 per session.
Prior to any treatment, all new patients are required to undergo a 1-hour comprehensive examination (£150), during which we will assess your oral health, discuss your sedation options, and provide a fully customised treatment plan with precise costs.
New Patient Consultation
All new patients will be asked to book a 1-hour comprehensive examination appointment for £150.
This exam will include your dental and gum health, structural integrity, bite function, cosmetic aspects, and any necessary X-rays.
After we have carefully listened to what you want and, under the dentist’s professional guidance, we will create a customised treatment plan for you and discuss the available treatments and estimated costs.
A £60 deposit is required at the time of booking, with the remaining £90 due on the day of your appointment.
Please note that this fee is fully refundable if you notify us of your cancellation at least 72 hours in advance. Your deposit will not be refunded for cancellations made with shorter notice or failed appointments.
We don’t judge you. You are always in control
We’re not going to lecture you or get angry at you. Even if it’s been ten years since you’ve seen a dentist, that’s ok. Better late than never.
Our Principal Dentist, Dr Lenore Bronkhorst, has been a member of The Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry for over 20 years.
Whether you’ve had bad experiences or are afraid of injections, we all experience dental/medical anxiety to some extent or another.
We know it’s difficult, but it will be so worth it in the end! It’s a hard step to take, but it can be one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself.
One of the best parts of this job is seeing someone come in with poorly cared-for teeth and, after treatment, become a completely different person with so much more confidence!
Dental Sedation FAQ
What types of dental sedation do you offer?
At Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre, we understand that dental anxiety is incredibly common. To ensure you feel completely at ease, we offer two highly effective solutions:
Inhalation Sedation, commonly known as “Laughing Gas” (a calming mixture of Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide), and Intravenous (IV) Sedation for deeper relaxation. Our goal is to provide a pain-free, judgment-free environment where you are always in control of your treatment.
What is the difference between Laughing Gas and IV Sedation?
The main difference lies in the level of relaxation you experience.
With Laughing Gas, you remain fully awake but will feel lightheaded, euphoric, and deeply relaxed until the gas is turned off. It is an excellent option for mild to moderate anxiety.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation, on the other hand, provides deep comfort. While you are technically awake and can still respond to the dentist, you will be in a very deep state of relaxation and will likely not remember the procedure afterwards.
How long does dental sedation take to work?
Nitrous oxide typically takes effect within a few minutes of inhaling through the mask and wears off quickly once the flow is stopped.
IV sedation begins to take effect within a few minutes of starting the drip and produces deep relaxation for several hours.
Will I be completely asleep during IV sedation?
No, dental sedation is not the same as a general anaesthetic used in hospitals. With conscious IV sedation, you are not put to sleep. Instead, you are placed in a highly relaxed, dream-like state.
You will still be able to understand and respond to instructions from Dr Bronkhorst, but you will feel no pain or anxiety, and the time spent in the dentist’s chair will feel as though it has passed in minutes.
What should I expect during sedation?
Depending on the level of sedation, you can expect to feel calm, drowsy and less aware of time and surroundings. With conscious sedation, you stay responsive but relaxed. With deeper IV sedation, you may remember little or nothing afterwards.
Your heart rate, breathing and oxygen levels are monitored, and the team will talk you through each step at a gentle pace. You’ll need someone to escort you home after oral or IV sedation while the effects wear off.
Is dental sedation safe?
Yes, conscious dental sedation is an incredibly safe and highly regulated procedure. Dr Lenore Bronkhorst has advanced training and extensive experience in the safe administration of dental anaesthetics.
Throughout your entire appointment at our Plymouth clinic, your vital signs, including your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, will be continuously and carefully monitored by our highly trained clinical team.
Can I drive myself home after being sedated?
No. Because IV sedation leaves you feeling drowsy and impairs your reflexes for several hours, it is strictly unsafe for you to drive, operate machinery, or take public transport alone.
You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home, whether you live locally or are travelling across the Tamar, and they should stay with you for the rest of the day while the sedative fully wears off.
Can I request sedation for routine treatments like fillings or hygiene visits?
Absolutely. While sedation is incredibly popular for longer, more complex procedures such as placing dental implants, bone grafts, or multiple tooth extractions, we believe no one should have to endure dental fear.
If your anxiety prevents you from having routine fillings, composite bonding, or even professional scale and polish appointments, we can incorporate sedation into your care plan.
How do you ensure my treatment is pain-free even if I choose not to have sedation?
If you choose not to have IV sedation, you can rest assured that your treatment will still be entirely painless. We use the highest quality, fast-acting local anaesthetics to completely numb the treatment area.
Dr Bronkhorst utilises highly gentle techniques, and we always ensure the tooth is profoundly numb before any work begins, making your experience as comfortable as possible.
Will I feel any pain with dental sedation?
Sedation reduces anxiety and pain sensitivity, but it does not replace numbing injections. We use a local anaesthetic so the tooth and gums are properly numb before treatment begins.
Most patients describe treatment as painless, with only mild soreness afterwards that responds to routine pain relief.
Do I need a referral from my NHS dentist to receive sedation with you?
No referral is necessary. We warmly welcome private patients from across Devon and Cornwall seeking a gentle, anxiety-free dental experience.
Many of our patients travel from Ivybridge, Torpoint, Derriford, and beyond specifically to benefit from Dr Bronkhorst’s expertise in caring for nervous patients. Simply contact our friendly reception team to book your initial consultation.
What our patients say about us
How to find us
Address: 7 Lockyer Road, Plymouth, PL3 4RL
From Manadon roundabout: Take Mannamead Rd (B3250) to Mutley. Go around The Hyde Park Inn onto Wilderness Rd and then Lockyer Road.
From Drake Circus in the city centre: Go up North Hill (B3250) and across Mutley Plain into Wilderness Rd and then Lockyer Road.
From Laira Bridge: Continue onto Embankment Rd. At Cattedown roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Tothill Rd/B3238. Then continue straight onto Mutley Plain/B3250, into Wilderness Rd, and then onto Lockyer Road.
If using public transport, there are several bus stops across Mutley Plain, serving routes into and out of Plymouth city centre.
There is on-street parking available outside our premises Mon–Fri except between 3–4pm when it’s permit-only.
We’re roughly 100 metres from Mutley Plain, which has Mutley Barracks and Napier Terrace car parks, both offering 2 hours of free parking.