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Afraid of the Sedation Dentistry? Don’t worry, we understand.
At United Dental Clinic, we offer oral and IV sedation to relieve pain and dental anxiety and give you the best chance at quality dental care.
Sedation Dentistry involves the use of sedation medication to reduce pain and anxiety for dental patients. It creates a more pleasant overall experience, and combats dental fear and phobia.
Dental fear can be attributed to a number of causes. These include, but are not limited to:
- Fear of pain
- Extremely sensitive teeth
- History of severe dental trauma
- Complex dental issues
Those who suffer from dental fear are prone to oral health problems, due to their avoidance of the dentist. Luckily, Sedation Dentistry provides a safe, pain-free avenue to dental treatment.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation Dentistry encompasses a range of medical techniques used to minimise pain associated with dentistry. While anyone is able to request Sedation Dentistry in their treatment plan, sedation methods are especially beneficial to those who experience a degree of dental anxiety. Also called dental fear or dental phobia, dental anxiety is a fear of going to the dentist. It can stem from a fear of pain, having extremely sensitive teeth, or a history of severe dental trauma and complex dental issues. Without Sedation Dentistry, those with dental anxiety are not likely to seek dental care and, therefore, suffer the consequences of poor oral health.
Types of Sedation Dentistry
IV Sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation allows you to undergo treatment in a relaxed, anxiety-free manner. You will remain conscious during the procedure, but will feel no pain – instead, you will feel relaxed. It is likely that you will remember very little, if any, of the procedure. At United Dental Clinic, your well-being and peace of mind is extremely important to us. Your in-clinic IV sedation will be administered by a highly qualified anaesthetist who will visit the practice for your appointment, to ensure a smooth procedure. This service does need to be booked in advance, so please mention it when making your appointment.
Oral Sedation
At UDC we offer oral sedation for patients who experience dental fear or dental anxiety. The mild sedative we use can ease feelings of fear, anxiety and pain throughout treatment to ensure yours is completed in a relaxed, comfortable environment. Our oral sedation method can also be used for patients who need extensive treatments, complex or multiple treatments. Those with extreme tooth and gum sensitivity, a strong gag reflex, a small mouth or who find traditional numbing methods ineffective can also benefit from oral sedation methods. If you’re considering oral sedation as part of your next dental treatment, let the team know in advance.
In more detail
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
1. Calm and relaxed
Undergoing a dental procedure can be a stressful, high anxiety process. For this reason, many people avoid the dentist altogether. Sedation Dentistry can be used effectively in these instances to relax the patient.
2. Shorter visits
Sedation Dentistry allows dentists to perform more work in a given time frame. Dentists are able to work most effectively on calm, relaxed patients as they fidget, move and worry less.
3. Pain reduction
As well as keeping you calm during a dental procedure, sedatives act to reduce your pain. Not all sedatives have the same capacity to reduce pain, but some can reduce it completely!
Risks of Sedation Dentistry
1. Temporary physical impairment
Sedatives relax more than your mind! You might notice a difference in your reflexes, timing and thinking. You should not drive while sedated. Depending on the sedative, you might also have difficulty talking or have a feeling of confusion and dizziness. You might also feel fatigued.
2. Additional cost
Sedation Dentistry adds cost to a dental procedure as it requires special medication and specialist staff to administer these medications. However it is the best recommended method to have a pain-free dental procedure.
3. Dosages differ
Different drugs can affect people in different ways. For your safety United Dental Clinic brings in a qualified anaesthetist to administer strong sedatives.
FAQs
Sedation Dentistry is safe for most. Though, your dentist will think twice before administering sedatives to children, the elderly, and those who have temporary health conditions, chronic conditions or obesity. If you are a healthy individual, Sedation Dentistry should be a viable option for you.
To effectively manage your dental anxiety, speak to your dentist at United Dental Clinic about creating a fear management treatment plan. Together, you could make a meaningful change.
Almost anyone! However, your dentist will need to conduct further examination before sedating children, the elderly, and those who have temporary health conditions, chronic conditions or obesity.