Vermilion - The Smile Experts

Relax and Feel at Ease During Your Treatment

At Vermilion, we understand that dental implant surgery – especially All‑on‑4 treatment – can be life-changing, but also a source of anxiety. That is why we prioritise your comfort by offering two levels of conscious sedation at our Edinburgh and Kelso clinics, helping you feel calm, safe, and supported throughout your treatment.

Dental anxiety or phobia is very common and you are not alone if you feel nervous or fearful about visiting the dentist. To help you manage this, our oral surgeons work alongside experienced dental nurses and specialist anaesthetist to provide safe, anaesthetist-led conscious sedation.

For patients undergoing All‑on‑4 implant surgery, we strongly recommend conscious sedation to ensure a more comfortable and stress-free experience.

Why Choose Conscious Sedation?

  • Comfort & confidence – Sedation reduces anxiety during implant placement.

  • Advanced sedation options – Board-certified anesthetists administer tailored IV sedation using midazolam, propofol ± alfentanil.

  • Safety-first environment – Every patient undergoes professional ASA assessment and must be accompanied home for recovery.

How It Works – Step by Step

  1. Pre‑procedure assessment
    We will review your medical history to determine the ideal sedation plan.

  2. Sedation admin & All‑on‑4 surgery
    Your anesthetist will commence sedation prior to implant placement. Our oral surgeons and prosthodontists then extract failing teeth, place the implants and fit a temporary prosthesis – all in one session.

  3. Post‑op recovery & care
    After your procedure, you will be taken to a recovery area where you can rest comfortably under observation until you are ready for discharge. For your safety, you must be accompanied by a responsible chaperone who will escort you home.

  4. Follow‑up & maintenance
    A recall appointment reinforces post-op care advice, pain relief guidelines, and self-care instructions.

Our Team of Anesthetists

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Anaesthetics Dr Ross Paterson, Specialist Anaesthetist MD FRCA DICM FFICM,
GMC No.: 4091039
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Anaesthetics Dr Chris Richard, Specialist Anaesthetist BSc MBChB DA(UK) FRCA,
GMC No.: 2616993
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Sedation is recommended for patients experiencing dental anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or those undergoing longer or more complex procedures like All‑on‑4 implant surgery.

No, you must not drive after sedation. It is essential to arrange for a trusted companion to escort you home and stay with you overnight for safety and support.

Most patients take the day of surgery plus one recovery day off. For extensive treatments, such as full arch All‑on‑4 surgery, we recommend taking up to a full week to rest and recover.

Sedation requires a thorough clinical assessment by our specialist anesthetists. Costs vary depending on the treatment plan. Please contact our Edinburgh or Kelso clinics for a personalised quote.