IV Sedation Dentistry Cost in Brisbane

V sedation is often used as a tool to manage dental anxiety

While IV sedation can add to the cost of dental procedures, it can be a valuable tool for patients with severe dental anxiety, those undergoing long or complex procedures, or those with special needs.

What specific conditions warrant the use of IV sedation?

Dental IV sedation is a way to help people feel relaxed during dental procedures. It’s not like being fully asleep—you can still respond to the dentist’s instructions, but you might not remember the procedure afterwards.

Here’s when it might be used:

  1. If you’re really scared of the dentist: IV sedation can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable.
  2. For long or complicated procedures: If the dental work will take a long time or is complex, IV sedation can make the experience easier for you.
  3. For people with special needs: If someone has a hard time staying still for a long time or gets very anxious or upset during dental work, IV sedation can help.
  4. If you have a strong gag reflex: Some people have a reflex that makes them feel like gagging when something is put in their mouth. IV sedation can help with this.
  5. If you’ve had a bad experience at the dentist before: If you’ve had a traumatic experience with dental work in the past, IV sedation can help you feel more at ease.

Our Dentists can offer Dental Examinations under IV Sedation for people who are very anxious or have special needs. Some patients cannot tolerate the dental examination without sedation.

However, IV sedation is not suitable for everyone, and prior assessment by the dentist is required. IV sedation requires a separate initial appointment to review the medical history, consultation with the dentist and treatment planning.

The Costs Associated with IV Sedation

Dental procedures cost under IV sedation include two parts:

  1. The cost of the dental treatment provided by the Dentist
  2. The cost of IV sedation provided by the specialist Anaesthetist

Cost of Dental Treatment

The cost of the dental treatment itself is separate from the cost of IV sedation. This cost is determined after thoroughly examining the patient’s mouth, and the dentist will provide treatment options and the cost of each. This allows the patient to choose the best option for them.

Cost of IV Sedation (or Anaesthetist Fee)

The cost of IV sedation is typically charged on an hourly basis and includes the time spent by the anaesthetist before, during, and after the procedure. As per the information from Pure Dentistry in Brisbane, the anaesthetist fee for IV sedation is approximately $1,000 per hour. This fee increases with the duration of the procedure, and the anaesthetic time is typically longer than the actual dental procedure time by about 30 minutes.

In other words, the anaesthetist fee starts at $1,000 for the first hour and increases with the duration of the procedure. However, the Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket costs are not as straightforward.

The Medicare rebate is not a fixed percentage across all procedures and durations. For example, the rebate for a 1-hour procedure is $277 out of the $1,000 fee, which is approximately 28%. For a 1.5-hour procedure, the rebate is $319 out of the $1,500 fee, which is approximately 21%.

The anaesthetist fee for IV sedation is based on the duration of the sedation procedure and includes the time spent by the anaesthetist before, during, and after the dental procedure. The anaesthetic time is typically longer than the dental procedure time by about 30 minutes.

The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) does provide an increased rebate for Australian families and singles who incur out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-eligible out-of-hospital services. Once the relevant annual threshold of out-of-pocket costs has been met, Medicare will pay up to 80% of any future out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services for the remainder of the calendar year. However, this is subject to certain conditions and thresholds.

So, while it’s true that Medicare can rebate up to 80% of out-of-pocket costs under the EMSN, this depends on several factors, including the total out-of-pocket costs incurred in a calendar year and whether the EMSN threshold has been met. It’s recommended to contact Medicare or visit the Medicare Safety Nets website for specific information about potential rebates and out-of-pocket costs.

You can view your Medicare Safety Net threshold using your MyGov account. The Screenshot below is an example only.

Medicare Safety Net for Out of Hospital Dental Service

Insurance Coverage for Dental Procedures Under IV Sedation

Private health insurance may cover a portion of the costs associated with IV sedation and dental procedures, depending on the specifics of the policy. It’s best to contact the insurance provider directly for detailed information about what is covered under the plan.

Medicare Coverage for Dental Procedures Under IV Sedation

The Medicare rebate is not a fixed percentage across all procedures and durations. For example, the rebate for a 1-hour procedure is $277 out of the $1,000 fee, which is approximately 28%. The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) provides an increased rebate for Australian families and singles who incur out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-eligible out-of-hospital services. Once the relevant annual threshold of out-of-pocket costs has been met, Medicare will pay up to 80% of any future out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services for the remainder of the calendar year. However, this is subject to certain conditions and thresholds.

Payment Plan Options for Dental Procedures Under IV Sedation

Pure Dentistry in Brisbane offers payment plan options for their dental sedation services. This can make the cost of IV sedation and dental procedures more manageable by spreading the cost over a period of time. For example, with humm payment plan, a $2000 treatment would cost $100 per week.

Costs of IV Sedation using humm payment plan"

Brisbane Sedation Dentists with Payment Plan Options

We provide payment plan options for our Sedation Options. Please ask our front office what payment plan options are available to cover the cost of Dental treatment under IV sedation or phone us on 07 3343 4869. You can book your dental sedation consultation online directly from the Book Online Link on our website.

Other Dental Sedation Options

In addition to IV Sedation, Laughing gas or Sleep Dentistry using General Anaesthesia are also sedation options that can be used for adults and children. In general, laughing gas is weaker than IV sedation, and Sleep Dentistry is Stronger than IV sedation. For more information, see Brisbane Sleep Dental Clinic and happy gas for children by Brisbane Kids Dentists or Sleep Dentistry for Children using General Anaesthetics.