For people who suffer from dental anxiety when going to the dentist, a routine appointment can be a very unpleasant experience. It isn’t just children that get anxious at the dentist. 1 in 7 Australian adults have high dental fear about visiting the dentist.
Sometimes, this anxiety can even prevent patients from receiving adequate dental care. Thankfully, options are available that can help you receive the care you need and enjoy the benefits of good oral health.
Sleep dentistry can make you more relaxed and comfortable at the dentist. There are several sedation options, so it’s helpful to understand the distinctions between them. If you’ve been wondering what sleep dentistry is, the following information will answer some common questions about the different types.
Conscious sedation (Nitrous oxide/Happy gas)
If you and your dentist choose conscious sedation for your dental treatment, you’ll be very relaxed but awake and you can respond to your dentist’s instructions. This is generally accomplished with medications like happy gas, properly called nitrous oxide.
Oral sedation
This type of sedation involves the administration of sedative medication taken orally, or by mouth. Patients typically receive the medication an hour before a procedure is scheduled, which is enough time for the sedative to have an effect. People treated this way will generally be relaxed and a bit drowsy, but still awake and able to respond to the dentist.
Sleep Dentistry (IV sedation)
IV sedation is much faster than other methods, as the sedative medication is administered intravenously. This method of sedation is more involved than the other methods, as the level of sedation is monitored carefully throughout the procedure and adjusted as needed. The recovery period for this kind of sedation can take up to several hours and you will need a career to drive you home and stay with you while you recover.
At Beaches Dental Mona Vale our IV sedation is administered by one of our qualified and experienced Sedationists, who has been providing dental sedation to nervous patients for many years.
General Anesthesia
In some cases, general anesthesia is the type of sedation a dentist may recommend. This form of sedation is carried out in a hospital setting as it will render a person completely unconscious. As the patient is asleep for the entire procedure, the presence of a specialist called a sedationists is required. This type of sedation is generally carried out in a hospital or day-surgery.
The patient’s breathing, blood pressure, and level of sedation are monitored throughout the procedure, and recovery generally takes several hours in the hospital before going home with a career. This type of sedation may cause some patients to feel ill for a brief period of time during recovery.
Six Ways Sleep Dentistry Can Change Your Dental Experience
Sleep dentistry at Beaches DentalMona Vale can reduce your dental anxiety in many different ways. Here are six benefits of sleep dentistry that can help you receive proper dental care without pain, discomfort, or unease.
It Helps Your Appointment Go By Faster
Even conscious sedation alters your perception of the world around you. This includes the passage of time, and it is not uncommon for patients to be surprised when a dental appointment or procedure is over.
You Won’t Mind Being at the Dentist
All forms of sedation treat anxiety by affecting the parts of the brain responsible for the fight or flight response. Even while conscious, patients under sedation are relaxed and, generally speaking, quite happy. They may even be talkative or make jokes — and some even sing.
Get More Than One Procedure in One Sitting
Sleep dentistry is an excellent option for lengthy procedures when a number of treatments are being performed at once. Without the benefit of sleep sedation, some patients would have to keep multiple appointments to complete the dental care they require. With sleep sedation, even the lengthiest procedure can pass by quickly and as comfortably as possible..
You’ll Never Miss Out On Preventive Dentistry
Perhaps the most severe side effect of dental anxiety is the absence of proper dental care, which includes regular appointments for examination. If you’re too afraid or nervous to go to the dentist, the type of preventive care that most people receive may be anxiety provoking for you. Completing all your treatment under IV sedation may increase your confidence to then start coming to the dentist for simple procedures like a check-up and clean. It Helps Strong Gag Reflexes
Some people are very sensitive and have strong gag reflexes, making even routine dentistry difficult for them. The presence of any foreign object in the mouth may make them react uncontrollably, preventing the dentist from administering appropriate care. Sleep dentistry can minimise this reaction so your dentist can give you the care you need.
It Improves Your Quality of Life
Anxiety and fear can make even an ordinarily cheerful person miserable. With sleep dentistry, you won’t have to suffer through an unpleasant experience to receive proper dental care and improve your oral health. It’s an excellent option for those who regard dental appointments with trepidation.
Summary
There’s no reason to feel fearful or anxious about dental visits — modern dentistry aims to be as painless as possible, safe, and effective. Still, even though our fears may sometimes seem irrational, this doesn’t make them any less real to the person experiencing them.
If you’re interested in sleep dentistry in Mona Vale, contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
