Sleep Dentistry: What You Need to Know

Some people don’t bat an eyelid during visits to the dentist while other avoid the dentist for years of end. If you fall into the latter category, sleep dentistry could be a good option for you to consider. Sleep dentistry uses medication and IV sedation to relax patients before dental procedures and offers a solution for dentist-related fear and anxiety.

If the thought of being in the dentist’s chair is all too much, today we’ll be looking at what you need to know about sleep dentistry.

Level of sedation

Depending on the procedure being undertaken and your level of anxiety, there are different levels of sedation which can be offered ranging from mild sedation up to heavy sedation. In some cases, an anaesthetist will need to be present during the procedure. Sleep dentistry is most commonly used for procedures such as wisdom tooth removal, root canal treatment, multiple fillings or dental implants.

The levels of sedation commonly provided in sleep dentistry include:

Oral sedation – Oral sedation is when oral sedatives are used to calm an anxious patient prior to a procedure. This is a great option for individuals who are afraid of needles (which is a very common concern) as it involves oral medication only. The effects of oral sedation can range from drowsiness to some people falling into a light sleep.

Conscious sedation–Conscious sedation is when a combination of sedatives and anaesthetic are administered prior to a procedure to allow you to be in a state where you’re completely relaxed. You’ll generally be awake during the procedure or if you do fall asleep, you can be easily woken. You probably won’t remember much of the procedure and will feel drowsy afterwards.

Intravenous sedation –Intravenous sedation means you’ll have sedatives administered through an IV drip and it will feel like you’ve been asleep for the whole procedure. You won’t be able to remember the procedure but will remain conscious and will be able to respond to commands. An anaesthetist or dental seditionist will need to conduct the IV sedation

Be open with your dentist

If the thought of the dentist causes you significant anxiety, it’s nothing to be ashamed off. Sometimes people have had a previous traumatic experience at the dentist which increases their fear levels or they may suffer from anxiety. Whatever your reason, you don’t need to continue to avoid the dentist – simply speak to your dentist about your concerns so a plan can be formulated.

At Carillon City Dental, we provide sleep dentistry to help you get through dental procedures if you’re feeling particularly anxious. If you’re anxious about upcoming dental work, speak to one of our dentists and we can let you know what we offer in terms of sleep dentistry options.

For more information about sleep dental procedures, contact Carillon City Dental today on (08) 9322 5340.