Sleep dentistry, otherwise known as sedation or twilight dentistry can be the answer for those with dental phobia – at Rockingham Dental Centre we can advise you.

For certain people, treatment under sedation can provide the answer to dental phobia, where fear of undergoing dental treatment means that they are unable to receive the restorative dentistry that they need. However, sedation is certainly not for everyone, and you would expect to discuss this option carefully with your dentist before deciding that it is necessary.

There are different forms of sedation possible – the three most common forms on offer are inhalation sedation, also known as laughing gas; oral sedation, where the patient takes anti-anxiety pills or a liquid preparation; and intravenous (IV) sedation, where drugs are administered into the bloodstream.

Sedation can be useful if:

• You don’t want to be aware of what’s happening during a procedure. In this case, IV sedation is the method of choice
• You want a little help to relax – ‘laughing gas’ can give you a pleasant relaxed feeling
• It’s an invasive or unpleasant procedure such as a complex extraction

Sedation may not be a good option if:

• Control and trust are a major issue for you
• You feel you would benefit from a gentle approach, which would involve being talked through procedures, going at your pace, and using stop signals
• You’re worried that sedation will interfere with your judgment and your ability to communicate your concerns to your dentist