The words 'fear', 'anxiety' and 'pain' have long been associated with dentistry. Throughout the years the public have thought and been taught the dentistry hurts. But in this modern age with technology and drugs these three fears are mislaid. However, we do appreciate that there are patients who are dental phobics and need tender loving care.

We offer three forms of sedation normally accompanied by local anaethesia. All patients undergoing sedation have to be escorted home.

  • Oral Sedation
  • Inhalation Sedation
  • Intravenous Sedation

Oral Sedation

Tablets are prescribed to be taken before the appointment and possibly the night before. The advantages are an almost universal acceptance by patients, ease of administration and realitive safety. Disadvantages include a long latent period, unreliable drug absorbtion and a prolonged duration of action.

Inhalation Sedation

A variety of gaseous agents may be administered by inhalation to produce either sedation or general anaesthesia. In dental practice however the inhalation route is virtually synonymous with the use of nitrous oxide and oxygen i.e. Gas and Air.

A Worried Patient!
Nitrous oxide the first general anaesthetic has been in use since 1844 both in medicine and dentistry. The inhalation route provides the most rapid onset of action. Recovery from inhalation sedation is also quite rapid. In an outpatient dental practice this is very important as it permits the dentist to discharge the patient almost immediately after the treatment is complete.

Intravenous Sedation (I.V.)

The I.V. route of drug administration represents the most effective method of insuring predictable and adequate sedation in virtually all patients. Advantages of I.V. drug administration include a short period of about 20 to 25 seconds permitting the operator to titrate the drug, and the ability to rapidly enhance the action of the drug if necessary. In dental practice a drug used intravenously for sedation will require approximately 2 to 8 minutes to reach its desired effect. An additional advantage possessed by many intravenously administered drugs is that most patients can't remember the treatment that was often carried out. Often the patients remark that they have been in the chair for 10 to 15 minutes when they have been having treatment for 2 or 3 hours. Patients can't remember having a local anaesthetic while they were under the sedation.

The disadvantages of intravenous sedation is that the patient is unable to carry out any duties on the day of treatment, co-operation from the patient is also required for a successful veno-puncture (injection in the arm). Intravenous sedation may not be suitable for all patients particularly patients who have other systemic diseases and children, and are taking drugs for various illnesses. The dentist will have to assess each patients suitability.

Thus far we have been able to manage successfully approximately 99% of our dental patients using one or more techniques discussed.

If you need further information on any of the sedation techniques please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the dentists at the practice.