Sedation Dentistry for Dental Anxiety and Phobias

For many people, the words ‘dentist’ and ‘relaxation’ don’t exactly go hand in hand. Simply the thought of booking an appointment can be enough to induce serious anxiety and intense nerves. While this may be more common than you realise, it has the potential to become a serious issue when your oral health takes a back seat.

Dental anxiety is a real phobia, but luckily there are effective solutions available in the form of sedation dentistry Cockburn. Completely safe and immediately calming, read on to learn about the main types of relaxation and forms of administration.

What is sedation dentistry?

Used in dentistry to calm nervous or pain-sensitive patients, sedative drugs are typically induced via oral, inhalation, or IV sedation prior to a dental procedure so it can proceed calmly, and without interruption. 

Reliable sedation dentistry Port Coogee normally does not render the patient unconscious, rather keeps them in a highly relaxed state with no pain, and usually little memory of the procedure afterwards.

Benefits of utilising sedation

There are many reasons why you may be considering sedation dentistry Cockburn, administered by highly trained professionals. In some cases, the patient has what’s known as dentophobia – a genuine fear of visiting the dentist. As this uncontrollable dread can prevent essential oral health care being carried out regularly, sedation is a secure and effective method of temporarily numbing that angst, allowing important dental procedures to go ahead safely.

Sedation dentistry can also benefit patients with other anxiety or pain issues, for example: 

• A fear of needles or blood
• Serious gag reflexes
• Highly sensitive teeth
• Low pain thresholds

Oral sedation vs IV sedation

While there are multiple levels of sedation (from relaxed but aware, to completely unconscious), and many forms of administering sedatives, there are two primary forms of sedation dentistry Port Coogee utilised in contemporary dentist practices here in Australia.

Oral sedation

Calming sedatives are taken before an invasive dental surgery or procedure, in what is known as premedication. Relatively potent but absolutely safe, oral sedation can cause patients to relax to the point of sleeping, allowing the dentist to work uninterrupted. 

As it can be taken before the procedure, and prior to any needles being used, this form of sedation works well for those with a fear of needles or with extreme anxiety preceding the treatment.

IV sedation

Typically used during invasive procedures that can cause pain and discomfort, intravenous (IV) sedation is a deep form of sedative that renders the patient completely lethargic and unaware of what’s going on around them. However, you will still remain conscious and can be woken up if needed.

Thanks to its fast, long lasting effects, IV sedation is commonly used for treatments such as:

• Root canal
• Severe gum disease
• Tooth extractions
• Removal of wisdom teeth

Choose the best sedation dentistry Cockburn

With experienced dental practitioners and highly trained sedation experts, Allied Dental are on hand to help you through your anxiety and fear, and improve your dental health with full support and a calm environment.

Contact us today to speak to a friendly team member about sedation dentistry Port Coogee and Cockburn, or to book an appointment.