A number of people are worried about having dental treatment, and all patients are different. This may be for a variety of reasons, such as a bad experience at the dentist, their own beliefs about dental treatment, or perhaps the amount of treatment to be carried out. Their anxiety may be so great that it prevents them from going to the dentist.
So if you feel nervous, fear not! We understand that patients can be nervous when coming to us for a whole array of reasons. We understand that the amount of anxiety can vary hugely from individual to individual.
That is why we care for every patient as an individual, and we will care for you according to your own unique dental requirements and personal needs. So there is no need to worry if you feel anxious upon arriving at our clinic. We encourage you to talk to us about your feelings so that we can discuss your treatment fully with you and reassure you that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. We will do all we can to build your confidence and help you overcome any fears. However, if you are still worried or nervous we can also provide you with I.V. sedation.
This is where a drug is administered through an injection, normally in the back of the hand, to make people feel like they are asleep. IV sedation does not actually induce sleep; instead, you remain conscious and can follow instructions from your dentist. Intravenous sedation will therefore reduce the anxiety you feel and replace it with a feeling of relaxation and calmness. This allows treatment to proceed as normal.
The sedative drug is administered into a vein using a very thin needle that is encased in a soft plastic tube. When the needle is removed from the vein, it leaves the plastic tube behind, and this tube is used to administer the drug. The common anti-anxiety sedative that is used is midazolam. IV sedation is extremely safe. It is also very useful for patients who have a strong gag reflex.
Intravenous sedation is a very straightforward procedure and does not affect how your dental treatment is carried out. Once you are sedated, your dentist will continue with your dental treatment. Having conscious intravenous sedation does not remove the need for local anaesthetic, it has been developed to allow patients to have their fears and anxieties reduced to such an extent that they could comfortably allow dental treatment to take place; it has many advantages which include:
