Overcoming dental phobia and worries with sedation
Some people are so worried about visiting the dentist, they avoid attending regular appointments or getting vital treatment to protect the health of their teeth. This reluctance to see the dentist can be due to a variety of reasons including:
- Concern about potential pain
- Feeling out of control
- Fear of being judged if their teeth are in poor condition
- Bad childhood dental experiences
- Fear of strange sounds and smells
- A needle phobia
If you have dental anxiety, sedation is a safe, effective way to make you feel completely relaxed and much more willing to undergo treatment. Your worries will be eliminated but you remain conscious and able to answer questions, so the dentist can treat you more effectively.
Why have sedation?
- Makes you feel completely relaxed and anxiety-free
- Rapid onset of the calming effects
- Level of sedation can be tailored to suit your needs
- Can help you forget the treatment process
- Allows you to communicate with the dentist
What’s involved in having sedation?
Your general health will be carefully assessed, including your blood pressure and oxygen levels.
The type of sedation most suited to you and the dental procedure you require will be discussed with you in advance. The two most common forms of sedation are inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide gas mixed with oxygen, and intravenous sedation.
Intravenous sedation involves having a very thin needle inserted into a vein in your arm or the back of your hand leaving a soft plastic tube through which the sedative will be gradually delivered. You will be closely monitored throughout the treatment process.
Additional medication will be required to relieve any discomfort as sedation only calms you and does not provide pain relief. However, this will be administered once you are suitably relaxed.
The effects of sedation will take a while to wear off, so you will need someone to take you home and keep an eye on you.
