Sedation
Nitrous (happy gas)
Nitrous sedation involves breathing in a blend of two gases through a mask which sits over your nose. Everyone individual is different in how much nitrous is required to sedate them but generally you have a feeling of relaxation and reduced anxiety when you get the right level for you.
Nitrous is very useful for people who have a strong gag reflex or who have mild to moderate anxiety. It is particulary effective for children who require simple procedures such as one or two fillings or extraction of 1 or 2 baby teeth.
Very safe. This type of sedation is very popular in dentistry. The gas can be adjusted by your dentist ensuring you are most comfortable. You will remain fully conscious throughout and can respond to questions or requests. For many this is an ideal solution as it is fast acting, taking only 3-5 minutes to start taking affect, while also being quickly eliminated from the body once the gas is turned off. You are able to drive home safely and do not need an escort for your appointment.
IV sedation or sleep dentistry
Many of us feel nervous, anxious and worried when it comes to any form of surgery, especially dental surgery.
At Trinity Dental @ Heathridge, we offer an effective way to face this fear by offering patients conscious sedation during dental surgery. Sedation provides anxiety relief and pain control during surgery, especially during complex and long procedures.
Intravenous Sedation is administered via an injection, like a General Anaesthetic. The drugs used are given into a vein on the top of the hand or the forearm. During sedation, your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythms and amount of oxygen in the blood are monitored carefully and recorded by the sedationist. This adds to the safety of the procedure.
The level of sedation allows for a limited verbal response or verbal requests. You may have truly little or no memory of the procedure whilst under the sedation. Our aim is for our patients to feel confident, relaxed and delighted with the experience and results of the surgery.
What is Sleep Dentistry?
Sleep Dentistry is the use of intravenous (IV) sedation administered and supervised by a qualified and experienced sedation trained professional. It is often referred to as “Twilight Sedation” or “Conscious Sedation”. It is the most advanced form of dental sedation available and uses a combination of sedative and pain-relieving drugs to create a drowsy and dream-like state of deep and calming relaxation for the entire duration of your dental procedure. It is a modern, safe and highly effective technique that will make your visit to the dentist a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Recovery
This is the “waking up” stage that takes place after the dental treatment is completed. During this time you will continue to be monitored by the sedationist. Recovery from sedation is usually fairly brief, although this too can vary from patient to patient depending on doses of drugs used, length of treatment, individual tolerances, sensitivities and metabolism.
