Pain (& Anxiety) Management
It is not uncommon for people to be scared of going to the dentist or a specialist and end up choosing to go ahead with treatment because of fear. In some cases you may not even approach a dentist or specialist to seek any medical attention at all.
If you are among these people, we can help and treat you through diverse levels of pain and anxiety management.
Sedation can be used for any type of periodontal and implant treatment, from scale and clean, implant and periodontal surgeries to invasive procedures such as advanced bone grafting. Sedation dentistry and pain management use drugs to help patients relax during dental specialist procedures.
Levels of Sedation
Minimal SedationAchieved with relaxed breathing and Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) or via oral sedation (pills taken prior to your appointment). You are awake, but relaxed.
Moderate Sedation
Acomplished through IV Sedation (Twilight Dentistry). Pills or a drug is delivered in to the body through a vein. You may slur your words when speaking and not remember much of the procedure.
Deep Sedation
You are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened via a combination of oral and IV medication management. General anesthesia: You are completely unconscious, for complex surgeries.
Types Of Sedation
Inhaled minimal sedation (Laughing gas)
Laughing gas is administered via a specially designed nasal mask, which is placed over the nose. Nitrous Oxide combined with Oxygen is passed through through the device in to your system as you breathe. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly after the treatment/ appointment. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure. It is the most common choice of sedation is highly recommended if you wish to be at ease during your treatment.
Oral sedation
You can be prescribed a pill, which usually takes about one hour to take affect, for minimal sedation. The pill will make you drowsy, although you will still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. You will need a responsible adult that will take care of accompanying you back home.
IV moderate sedation
You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation. After the specialist procedure you will need a period of post-operative observation in the practice in a recovery room.
Deep sedation and General Anesthesia (GA)
While you are under General Anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication. Deep sedation and GA are carried out by a specialist in Anaesthesiology in a surgical theatre setting while the Periodontics performs the surgery. You will get medications that will make you either almost unconscious or totally unconscious (deeply asleep) during the procedure.
Regardless of which type of sedation you receive, you will also need a local anesthetic numbing medication at the site where the specialist is working in the mouth. However, the required dose is often heavily reduced when you are sedated.