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Sleep Dentistry – 6 Reasons to Consider Dental Sedation

Faris Kirmani • July 10, 2020

Sleep Dentistry – 6 Reasons to Consider Dental Sedation

If the thought of visiting the dentist is enough to send your pulse racing and your knees knocking, you might want to consider sleep dentistry.

Otherwise known as dental sedation, it involves giving a patient medication to help them remain calm and relaxed during dental treatment.

If left untreated, small painless issues can soon escalate into larger, more painful (and more expensive) problems or infections.

What Exactly Is Sleep Dentistry?

There are several sedation options which fall beneath the umbrella of ‘sleep dentistry’ so it helps to know the difference between them.

• Conscious sedation – nitrous oxide, happy gas, green whistle medications – all keep you awake but very relaxed. A person recovers within less than 5 minutes of conscious sedation being withdrawn.

• Oral sedation – Depending on the dosage, this can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, the patient is given a pill an hour before treatment. This makes them drowsy but awake. A larger dose can sometimes cause a patient to fall asleep during the procedure. Recovery time varies according to the level of sedation and may take a couple of hours or so.
• IV moderate sedation – This type of sedation is administered intravenously and starts to work almost right away. The level of sedation is continually monitored throughout the dental treatment. The recovery period can take several hours.

• General anaesthesia- This renders a person totally unconscious and they will be asleep for the entire procedure. Dental services such as this are typically carried out in a hospital environment where a specialist anaesthetist can monitor their breathing and blood pressure and bring them safely back to consciousness. Recovery time can take several hours and the patient may feel nauseous.

What Dental Treatments Can Be Carried Out With Sleep Dentistry?

Practically all dental services and treatments can be carried out with some form of sleep dentistry. These include:

•   Gum disease treatment
•   Tooth fillings
•   Root canal treatment
•   Crowns
•   Cleans
•   Teeth removal
•   Veneers
•   Dental implants

• Children’s dentistry

Just imagine feeling as if your dental treatment has gone by in a flash. Or better still, having no recollection of the procedure whatsoever.

With sleep dentistry, you’ll experience a feeling of calmness instead of the usual butterflies in your tummy and anxiety when you climb into the dental chair.

For this reason alone, dental sedation is a good option for patients who are scared or feel anxious at the thought of getting dental work done.

But there are more. ……

6 Reasons To Consider Sleep Dentistry

1. Relaxation - fear of the dentist is the main reason for people delaying dental treatment. In fact, around one in seven Australian adults suffer from an acute fear of the dentist, making it one of the most common anxiety disorders in the country. Sleep dentistry is used to turn a dental appointment into a more pleasant and less stressful experience.

2.   No discomfort – Anyone can benefit from sleep dentistry. Patients often feel less fatigued or tired after a lengthy procedure if they have been sedated. Patients with TMJ problems or jaw pain typically feel more comfortable during sedation dentistry. Happy gas can often increase a patient’s pain threshold and make dental treatment less painful or scary.
3.   Movement control – Sleep dentistry also limits a patient’s movements which can be extremely important when a dentist is performing an intricate procedure and needs a steady hand. Sudden jolts can make it impossible to perform certain treatments without the patient being sedated.
4.   Improved patient cooperation - Another important aspect to be taken into consideration with various dental services is patient co-operation. Patients that are overstressed and extremely anxious children can prove very uncooperative unless they are sedated during the dental procedure.
5.   Fewer appointments – Sleep dentistry enables patients to endure longer dental treatment with minimal fatigue or discomfort from keeping their mouth open. This means that complex procedures which would normally take several sessions to complete can now be performed in a single appointment.

6. Manages gag reflex – Dental sedation can also be used successfully to manage gag reflex which often occurs with anxiety. If you feel the urge to be sick during dental treatment, sedation dentistry could be a good fit for you.

Why Wait?

Our caring dentist has extensive experience in dealing with dental sedation.

During your initial consultation, we’ll find out from you what’s causing you to delay the dental treatment you need. From this, we can work out how to provide a comfortable anxiety-free treatment for you.

You’re In Control

You can rest assured that at Riverlands Dental you are in a safe place. We can organise a signal, such as raising a hand, to indicate that you need to take a break.

We also provide the following to make you feel as comfortable as possible:
•   Spacious treatment rooms with modern, clutter-free décor
•   Soft music and TVs to keep you entertained and relaxed
•   The Heka chair – this sleek svelte dental chair has an open design that allows for comfort without feeling you are constrained
•   Gentle hands
•   Experienced staff with a calming manner

• Dental sedation tailored to you

Don’t let fear of the dentist prevent you from getting the dental treatment you need. Sleep dentistry can help you conquer your fear and give you a confident healthy smile.

To find out more about dental sedation or our other dental services, get in touch with Riverlands Dental or call us on (02) 4501 7930 today.

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