Odontophobia (fear of dentistry) is no laughing matter. What this phobia can mean for sufferers is incredibly stressful and even traumatic experiences at the dentist, and/or complete avoidance of dental help. Luckily, there is a solution which can take the anxiety out of dental experiences, and that is sleep dentistry. We’ll explore below.
What is Sleep Dentistry?
No, the dentist will not be sleeping on the job! Sleep dentistry, also known as sedation dentistry, involves administering medication to a patient to sedate and/or relax them so that their dental procedure can be effectively performed.
The degree of sedation used is based to some extent on the level of anxiety the patient experiences. There are four levels of sedation available to patients:
- Minimal sedation – this is where the patient is awake and aware during the procedure but feels relaxed and drowsy. This type of sedation can be administered by inhalation, where the patient is fitted with a mask and a breathes in a carefully controlled mix of nitrous oxide gas and oxygen. Or, patients can take a tablet, Valium for instance, about an hour before treatment which will produce a similar effect.
- Moderate sedation – this level of sedation allows the patient to retain consciousness throughout the procedure and respond to questions throughout however, because it’s a higher level of sedation, it can affect memory and clear speech. Moderate sedation can be administered via an IV or a tablet.
- Deep Sedation – this means a patient will be unconscious, or very close to unconscious, throughout their procedure. The patient will likely have no memory of the procedure.
- General Anaesthetic – this is the same level of sedation used for most types of surgery in hospital. The patient is completely unconscious, will have no memory or feeling of the procedure, and will take some time to wake up.
When Would We Recommend Sleep Dentistry?
There are three main reasons we’d recommend sleep dentistry. The first one is when the procedure to be performed will likely be quite painful. When a patient needs a root canal, tooth extraction or even a very deep filling, sleep dentistry is often a good option. At Dentist on Queen we are committed to discussing sedation options with patients so that the patient feels comfortable and understands what’s involved.
The second reason we’d recommend sleep dentistry, is as we discussed above, in cases of dental anxiety/dental phobia. In these cases, it doesn’t matter whether the procedure is painful or not, the patient may only need a standard tooth clean, however their anxiety levels mean sedation is appropriate because the alternative is no treatment at all.
The third reason for recommending sleep dentistry is to cater for patients who physically struggle to undergo dental procedures. This could be the result of something as simple as having an inability to sit still (a commonly occurring tendency in young children!) or an over-active gag reflex.
We’d like to note that it’s important that patients feel comfortable with their dentist and have trust in their skill and approach to treatment. A good dentist will explain the risks and benefits of sedation to you, prior to your consent to any treatment.
At Dentist on Queen we are committed to offering the highest standard of dental care and comfort. Contact us today.