My Comfort – Anxiety control

Sedation dentistry is just what it sounds like. We use a sedative to relax a patient to be pain free and unaware of the treatment, almost like they were asleep, but they aren't.

WHY IS IT NEEDED?
Most people have read or at least heard about sedation dentistry in the media. It's been a hot topic over the past 10 years. So why has it become so popular? Simply put, sedation dentistry allows high anxiety patients to undergo treatment in a completely comfortable and relaxed state.

Unless you are a dental phobic, it may be hard to understand the real fear many people experience just thinking about a trip to the dentist. Many of these people had horrible experiences as a child and the terrible memory simply will not go away.
The common trait among high anxiety patients is to stay away from a dental office until something happens, like a toothache, which forces them to seek help. It is not uncommon for 20 years to fly by before they seek help. Other reasons patients may benefit from being sedated during dentistry include sensitive teeth, a bad gag reflex, or fear of dental injections.

ARE YOU HIGH ANXIETY?
The first step is to admit it is time to start seeing a dentist; one who listens to you, who understands there is a person attached to the tooth and that you need special care.
Half of the battle of overcoming dental fear is to find someone you feel comfortable with, teeth are very important to overall health.

TYPES OF SEDATION
There are many types of sedation, the most common being nitrous oxide or laughing gas and oral sedation. Neither of these replace local anaesthesia as it is still important the patient's mouth be numb when worked on.

Nitrous oxide: The patient places a small mask over their nose and simply breathes in a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. It is called laughing gas for a reason; most patients get a fairly big smile on their face.

Oral Sedation: When nitrous is not enough to calm fears; we can use a sedation pill. It is basically a short acting sleeping pill that also produces an amnesiac state.

Sleep Dentistry: Is the use of intravenous (“IV”) sedation administered and supervised by a qualified and experienced medical doctor. It is often referred to as “Twilight Sleep” or “Twilight Sedation” or “Conscious Sedation”.

It is the most advanced form of dental sedation available and uses a combination of sedative and pain relieving drugs to create a drowsy and dream-like state of deep, calming relaxation for the entire duration of your dental procedure.
It is a modern, safe and highly effective technique that will make your visit to the dentist a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable experience.