Dental Sedation – All your questions answered

Lots of people find trips to the dentist stressful and even scary. Dental phobia is very common, but if you find that your fear of the dentist is getting in the way of accessing dental care, it’s important to take action.

If you find coming to the dentist frightening and stressful, here at Benfleet Dental Centre we are able to help make treatment a more relaxing experience using dental sedation. Dental sedation is also known as oral conscious sedation.

It doesn’t involve putting you to sleep like they might at the hospital before a big procedure. Instead, it’s a mild sedative that will help you to relax while also calming your panic response so you don’t feel the physical symptoms of anxiety.

In this blog we look to answer all your dental sedation questions to make sure you have all the information you need.

What is dental sedation?

Dental sedation is used to help nervous patients relax while undergoing dental treatment. The solution of either midazolam or diazepam is administered by the dentist, through an injection given in the arm or back of your arm.

You can also have oral conscious sedation, which is simply a pill you will take before your treatment. It usually takes around one hour for the pill to start working.

If just the thought of walking into the dental practice is too daunting, you could take the pill at home before your treatment and then have a family member or friend escort you to the practice.

Sometimes, getting through the door is the most difficult challenge, and you might find that you are able to relax once you have overcome this hurdle.

What happens before treatment?

Prior to any treatment you will attend for a consultation appointment with the dentist. They will take a full medical history to ensure that you are suitable for the sedation procedure.

It is important that you tell the dentist any medications that you are taking and any health problems you may have to ensure that they can treat you safely and effectively.

Not everyone is suited to sedation dentistry, but we will try to make it work whenever possible. It is more likely to be used in instances where you have to undergo a long or uncomfortable procedure such as a root canal. It is less common for oral conscious sedation to be used for checkups.

What happens during treatment?

During treatment, your dentist and their team will monitor you closely and all your vital signs will be continuously recorded. You will not become unconscious; you will still be able to cooperate with the dentist but you will feel drowsy and will not be aware of the treatment going on.

One of the common side effects of dental sedation is amnesia, so you may feel treatment only lasted a matter of minutes and will remember little of what has gone on, no matter how long you are in the dental chair.

Dental sedation does not provide you with a painkiller so you will still need a local anaesthetic in the area to be treated but this won’t be done until the sedation has taken effect, so you will not be aware of it.

This can be a huge source of relief if needles are one of the reasons that you are nervous about your dental treatment. By waiting until the sedation takes effect, you will be less aware of or bothered by the use of needles.

What happens following treatment?

It will take some time for the medication to leave your system. During this time, you will be monitored in the surgery. You will normally be allowed to go home within an hour of treatment, but you will need someone to be with you. You will not be able to drive or return to work for the rest of the day following treatment.

When you get home, you will likely feel very tired and will want to sleep. It’s a good idea to have someone with you as you recover in case you feel confused when you wake up. When you wake up, the effects of the pain relief will also have worn off, so you might need to be prepared to take over the counter pain medication to help manage any discomfort.

Top tips to reduce anxiety about visiting the dentist

The team at Benfleet Dental Centre all have many years’ experience treating nervous patients. We will be sure to do anything we possibly can to ensure that your visit is as calm as possible.

Here are some of our top tips to help you to manage your dental anxiety and tackle your dental appointments with confidence:

• Pick an appointment time early in the morning so you have less time to dwell on it.

• The first appointment will simply be a check-up so don't worry that you'll be launched into having treatments involving needles, drills or other instruments that might cause you some anxiety.. See this first visit as your chance to get to know the dentist and to ask questions.

• Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment. The dentist won't mind if they accompany you throughout the check-up or treatment.

• Before treatment begins, you can agree on a sign with your dentist to signal that you need a break and want them to stop. It can be as simple as pointing your finger or raising your hand. This will help you feel more in control and can alleviate some of the stress that is common in dental phobias related to control.

• If you think it will help, start gradually with a clean and polish then work up to more extensive treatment once you've built up trust with your dentist.

• Speak to our dental team. If you’re nervous about your visit, you can let our reception staff know when you book an appointment. They will let the dentist know so they can ask you more questions about why you are afraid of the dentist and what steps might help you to feel more confident.

• Plan a fun treat for after the dentist. It’s a good idea to plan something fun and pleasant for after your treatment to help elevate your mood and give you something positive to focus on.

If you are a nervous patient looking for a dentist, call Benfleet Dental Centre on 01702 557766 and book an appointment to discuss sedation today.