Sweet Dreams, Bright Smiles: Sleep Dentistry At Smile Concepts

By Author: Smiles Concepts
Total Articles: 71
Comment this article

What is Sleep Dentistry?
Sleep dentistry, or sedation dentistry that allows for pain free dentistry, is a dental solution designed for patients who dread going to the dentist.

Many people feel afraid or uncomfortable when they are placed in vulnerable positions like the dental chair, and may experience dental anxiety as a result.

Sleep dentistry is requires special skills and a highly trained team.

This team consists of the sedationist, the sleep dentist (a pain free dentist) who is a very gentle dentist & specially trained nurses.

Who is sleep dentistry for?
Sleep dentistry is an option for patients who fear dental procedures and needles, have difficulty with their gag reflex, have very sensitive teeth, or difficulty becoming numb from oral injections.

Sleep dentistry offers pain free dentistry and anxiety free dental procedures, as patients are in a deeply relaxed state, though fully responsive.

Sleep dentistry also provides an opportunity to perform multiple or lengthy dental procedures in one session.

It minimises the number of visits a patient has to make ...
... & ultimately reducing the build up of anxiety prior to each dental visit.

For procudures such as Porcelain Veneers and removal of wisdom teeth, IV sedation is a very good option to keep you relaxed and pain-free.

The sleep dentist or the pain free dentist takes care of all the procedural requirements to make sure that you are safe during the sedation.

Remember the sleep dentist is trained to be a gentle dentist.

What happens during sedation dentistry in Sydney?
Initially the sedation dentist will put you to sleep.

During the procedure, patients aren’t unconscious, but mentally “detached” from what’s going on, and before they know it, the sedation dentist will be telling them the dental procedure is over and they can go home.

The sedative effects of the medication last up to 24 hours, so patients will likely need to relax for the rest of the day after their dental procedure(s) and must be sure not to operate a motor vehicle after the sedation dentistry.

Am I going to be looked after by a gentle dentist?
A very gentle dentist will do your entire treatment.

We are specifically trained for looking after you care so that you have the best experience.

In fact you wont even remember your experience of the procedure.

The gentle dentist will make sure that you are comfortable and feel safe.

Pain-free Dentistry
The common types of pain-free dentistry where there is conscious sedation are: inhalational sedation, intravenous, & intramuscular sedation.
1. Inhalation Sedation Dentistry
Inhalation Sedation Dentistry or nitrous oxide-oxygen, is the most common sedation technique and is also known as ‘happy’ gas.

Inhalation sedation is a preferable option as patients recover quickly and may leave the dental office alone and immediately resume their normal daily activities.

2. Intravenous Conscious Sleep Dentistry
Intravenous Conscious Sleep Dentistry is a safe sedation technique and though it is not as readily available as other forms of sedation, it is more effective than administering the same drugs orally.

Patients will not remember any of the procedure and will feel as though they were asleep, even though they were wide-awake throughout.

When the gentle dentist uses intravenous sedation, patients will need to be hooked up to monitoring devices to measure blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate.

Patients must have someone escort them when leaving the office after the procedure.

3. Intramuscular Sleep Dentistry
Intramuscular sleep dentistry involves injecting sedative drugs into the muscle of the upper arm or thigh by the sedation dentist and is a less common option.

4. General Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia is required only in extreme cases and requires a trained and certified professional to monitor the patient while the dentist performs the dental procedure(s).

Anxious or phobic patients find that sleep dentistry offers a perfect solution for maintaining good dental health while being in a totally relaxed state.

Sleep dentistry ensures that patients experience no pain or anxiety during their dental procedures, and prevents emergencies that could occur as a result of such anxiety, like fainting.

Smile Concepts are the leading Sydney dentist, specialising in general, advanced and cosmetic dentistry. Book an appointment today at Sydney CBD or Five Dock.