If you're a nervous patient, sedation might be a good option for you. It can help you feel more relaxed during your dental treatment.
It’s common to feel a little anxious about visiting the dentist. Fortunately there are different ways that our dentists can make you feel more comfortable during treatment. One of the most useful ways to relax you during dental treatments is with sedation. Patients usually choose sedation for very complex dental treatments or surgery, including wisdom tooth removal or dental implants.
What is it?
Sedation involves the use of anaesthesia to put you into a calm, restful state. It is similar to sleep, but you are still conscious.
We offer three types of sedation to help patients feel more comfortable.
Inhalation sedation involves breathing in nitrous oxide gas to decrease pain sensitivity. It’s commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ or ‘happy gas’ to decrease pain sensitivity.
- Patients are conscious and able to co-operate during the procedure
- The effects wear off very quickly after treatment
- There are no after effects
Oral sedation is a sedative that is administered in a tablet or liquid form. It’s usually taken an hour before your appointment.
- Lasts 2 to 6 hours
- Patients usually have little memory of the treatment once completed
- For safety reasons, patients must have somebody collect them and take them home after their appointment
Intravenous, or IV sedation, involves a small injection of a sedative into your arm. Soon after the injection you will start to feel drowsy but very relaxed.
- The level of sedation is much easier to control than other types
- Patients will remain conscious throughout the treatment but usually have little memory of the treatment
- For safety reasons, patients must have someone to collect them and take them home after their appointment
Need to know
Appointments
- 1 single appointment
How long it takes
- Oral sedation can take up to 1 hour to begin working
- Inhalation sedation usually takes a few minutes to start working
- IV sedation usually takes a few minutes or less to start working
You may be asked about
- Your dental history and medical history
- Medications you are currently taking
Before your appointment
- If you're taking oral sedation you will usually need to take this an hour before your appointment
After your appointment
- Inhalation sedation will usually wear off quickly and there are no after effects
- With oral or IV sedation you will likely feel a bit drowsy after your appointment, but you will usually have little memory of the treatment
- For oral or IV sedation you will need to have someone take you home after the appointment
- Oral sedation will usually last around two to six hours
Quick tip
Most dentists offer sedation for nervous or anxious patients. If you are feeling nervous about getting dental treatment done, speak to your dentist about the sedation options available to you.
Have questions?
The cost will vary depending on the type of sedation used. Some sedation methods aren’t available at all practices so you will need to check with your dentist or oral surgeon before the procedure. At the consultation they will recommend the best option for you and also give you an indication of the cost.
You can relax! There’s no need to worry about feeling pain with sedation. The reason for being sedated during dental treatment is so that the procedure is pain-free, and you feel completely calm. With most sedation types you will have little memory of the procedure and will leave our clinic feeling relaxed.
Sedation is usually safe when given by experienced dentists. However being sedated can include some risk due to the use of anaesthesia with some existing medical conditions. Your dentist will go over your medical history to make sure it is safe for you to be sedated. You should also talk to your dentist about any concerns you may have before being sedated.
It’s normal to experience side effects with sedation until it wears off completely. With most sedation types you will usually feel relaxed but then a bit drowsy afterwards. You will often have little memory of the procedure, feel sluggish or heavy and have slower reflexes. People sometimes have low blood pressure after being sedated and may feel a bit sick or have a headache. These side effects usually wear off in a few hours. If you have concerns with any of the side effects of sedation we suggest talking to your dentist.
Sedation involves using anaesthesia to put you into a calm, restful state. You will remain conscious while sedated. Depending on the type of sedation used and the type of treatment you’re having, it could wear off in a few minutes or it may take a few hours.
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