Nervous patients & sedation in Rugby · the honest guide
A sedation dentist for Coventry, Leamington, Warwick and the rest of Warwickshire
Written by Dr Savan Zala, implant and sedation dentist at Rugby Smiles (BDS, MFGDP RCSEng, MSc Implants) · Reviewed September 2026
The short answer: Rugby Smiles provides IV sedation for nervous patients from across Warwickshire and the surrounding counties, and because you cannot drive yourself home after sedation anyway, a half-hour journey with your escort makes very little difference to the day. Free parking is on site, the practice is a few minutes from junction 1 of the M6 and the M45, and the sedation session is £500 on top of your treatment.
Most people searching for a sedation dentist are not looking for the nearest one; they are looking for one that actually does it properly and will see them soon. Sedation is not offered by every practice, NHS routes involve long referrals, and once you need an escort and a car, the difference between ten minutes away and thirty minutes away disappears. Here is how it works if you are coming to us from outside Rugby.
Not ready to speak to anyone yet? Tell us what worries you first, it takes two minutes and Georgia reads every one.
How far it really is
Coventry
Around 13 miles, typically 25 to 30 minutes by car via the A46 or M6. Many of our sedation patients come from Coventry, Binley and Kenilworth.
Leamington Spa and Warwick
Around 17 to 18 miles, roughly 30 to 35 minutes via the A45 or M40 and M45. A straightforward run for an escort.
Daventry, Lutterworth and Northampton
Daventry and Lutterworth are under 20 minutes. Northampton is about 25 miles and 40 minutes, mostly on the A45 and M1.
We are at 3 Newbold Road, Rugby CV21 2LQ, just off the town centre with free parking on site, so your escort can pull up at the door. If you would rather not do the journey twice, there is plenty nearby for them to do while they wait, and we will call when you are nearly ready.
Why people travel for sedation
- Not every practice offers IV sedation; it needs specific training, a second trained person and monitoring equipment
- NHS sedation is limited to hospital and community services with long waits and strict eligibility
- Once you need an escort and a car, distance stops being the deciding factor
- A practice built around nervous patients feels different from one that tolerates them
The whole practice is set up for anxious people, not just the sedation room. You can read how we look after nervous patients page without sedation at all, and start with a free chat with Georgia, our treatment co-ordinator, before you ever see a dentist.
What sedation here involves
Intravenous sedation with midazolam, given by me and monitored throughout by a sedation-trained nurse, to the UK Intercollegiate standards. You are deeply relaxed but not unconscious, you remember very little, and years of avoided treatment can be done in a single visit. Fillings, deep cleaning, extractions and wisdom teeth, root canals and implants can all be done under sedation. The IV sedation page covers the day in detail.
Planning the day from further away
Book a morning appointment so you are home in daylight with the whole day to rest. Your escort must be an adult who can bring you, take you home by car and stay with you for the rest of the day; public transport home is not allowed after sedation, wherever you live. If the two of you are coming from Coventry or Leamington, plan for around two and a half hours away from home for a typical session, including recovery time with us.
Before any sedation, we need one ordinary consultation to check your medical history, agree the treatment and give you the written price. That visit is free, you can drive to it yourself, and if you would rather do the first step from your sofa, the two-minute nervous patient questionnaire takes two minutes and Georgia reads every one.
What it costs
£500 per sedation session, on top of the treatment, and the same price whether you live in Rugby or Royal Leamington Spa. Every treatment item is priced from our published list and shown in writing before you book. 0% finance is available on larger plans, and our sedation cost guide compares our price with what is charged elsewhere in the UK.
“Patients drive past a dozen dentists to get here. The ones who do it under sedation tell me it was the easiest dental appointment of their lives.”
Dr Savan Zala, sedation dentist at Rugby Smiles
Questions people ask
Do you accept nervous patients from outside Rugby?
Yes. A large share of our sedation patients come from Coventry, Leamington, Warwick, Daventry, Lutterworth and Northampton, and some from further afield.
Can I get a taxi home after sedation?
Yes, but only with your escort in the taxi with you. You cannot travel home alone, and public transport is not permitted after sedation.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site at 3 Newbold Road, with space for your escort to wait or come back for you.
How soon can I be seen?
Book a free consultation online or ring 01788 579 577 and we will find the earliest slot. If you are in pain, we hold emergency slots every day, and ringing before 10am gives the best chance of being seen the same day.
Do I need a referral from my own dentist?
No. You can come to us directly, have your sedated treatment, and return to your own dentist afterwards if you wish. Many people stay.
Do you do sedation for children?
IV sedation here is for adults and over-16s. Younger children who need sedation are usually looked after through hospital or community dental services, and we can advise on the route.
Half an hour in the car. A lifetime of dread, finished.
The free consultation is a conversation, not a treatment: your medical history, what you need done, whether sedation is right for you, and a written price before anything is booked. Or start with a free, no-chair chat with Georgia, our treatment co-ordinator.
Read next: IV sedation at Rugby Smiles · what sedation feels like · if it has been years · IV sedation in Rugby · Rugby Smiles Dental Clinic · 3 Newbold Road, Rugby CV21 2LQ · 01788 579 577