At least 25% of us don’t like going to the dentist — it is one of the most common phobias people face. It's important to know that you are not alone in your anxiety, and there are techniques available to help manage your phobia. For example, you may find treatment easier if you have some form of sedation.

At Cape Road Dental, we meet lots of people who feel anxious about dental treatment. We have seen and heard it all before. Rest assured that our dentists are sympathetic and able to offer practical solutions to help you to relax.

Dental sedation helps reduce anxiety, discomfort, and pain during dental procedures. This is accomplished with medications and (sometimes) local anaesthesia to induce relaxation. Dental sedation doesn’t put you to sleep like a general anaesthetic. In most cases, it simply puts you into a deeply relaxed state. You’re still conscious and able to chat with your dentist throughout your treatment. At Cape Road, we use sedation for our patients who feel anxious or panicked during complex procedures like fillings, root canals, oral surgery or dental implant surgery. Through sedation, we’re able to ensure that even the most nervous patient remains relaxed and comfortable throughout their treatment.

IV sedation

IV sedation is delivered directly into a vein in the hand or arm, allowing you to quickly and painlessly fall into a state of deep relaxation. Unlike general anaesthesia, IV sedation does not put patients into a sleep-like state, but it does have amnesiac qualities, meaning you will remember little to nothing of your visit. The effects of IV sedation usually take a few hours to wear off, so you should plan on getting a lift home rather than driving.

General anaesthesia

With this type of sedation, you’ll be totally unconscious during your dental procedure and won’t remember the treatment afterward. Your procedure will be carried out in a hospital setting and you’ll be discharged within two hours. There are risks involved with general anaesthesia, so we only really use it as a last resort.

Yes. Sedation dentistry is a safe, efficient, effective method for many patients to receive dental treatment.

It is actually safer than not receiving sedation since dental fear and stress could provoke a dental or medical emergency. It’s important to note that we’ll have a full consultation with you before your procedure to make sure the type of sedation you choose is appropriate for your needs.

If you are in good overall health and are over the age of 18, you are most likely a good candidate for IV sedation. We often recommend IV sedation in the following cases:

• Dental phobic patients
• Tooth extraction, especially multiple tooth extraction
• Complex or lengthy procedures, such as implant placement or bone grafting
• Patients with certain painful medical conditions, such as severe neck or back pain, or arthritis
• Patients with a gag reflex

To find out more about Sedation Dentistry, speak to Cape Road today. Call 01926 491029 or fill out the form below. You can also book a consultation.