According to the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health, high dental fear affects around 1 in 6 Australian adults and 1 in 10 children. To deal with this, some dental clinics now practice sleep dentistry. It’s where they involve the use of sedatives or a specialist anaesthetist to put their patients to sleep for their dental treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, continue reading. This blog will cover everything you need to know about sedation dentistry in Brisbane.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
Ahpra Dental Board of Australia defines sedation dentistry as:
“The technique used in dental practice to induce a state of calm in the patients during oral surgery.’’
We can also refer to this phenomenon as twilight sedation or sleep dentistry. However, every form of sleep dentistry does not necessarily involve literal ‘sleep.’ Some procedures only put the patients in a relaxed state, where they can still hear and respond to verbal commands. As a result, they feel more pleasant or euphoric sitting in a dentist’s chair.
Sedation Dentistry Types
The drugs used in sedation dentistry depress the part of the central nervous system that keeps our consciousness active. However, each type incorporates a procedure to induce a different degree of sedation, from minimum to moderate or sometimes even deep sedation.
The intensity of the procedure depends on the patient’s history of dental experiences, the level of dental anxiety, the length of the dental treatment, or other underlying needs. Let’s talk about these different types in detail.
1. Oral Sedation
During oral sedation dentistry, patients are prescribed sedatives (oral pills) before the dental treatment. It is also known as oral conscious sedation. The drugs include hydroxyzine, diazepam, zaleplon, propofol, midazolam, or lorazepam. However, research states midazolam is the most commonly used oral drug in dental procedures (for light sedation).
After oral sedation, you can still interact with your dentist in a state of drowsiness. A gentle nudge will wake you even if you fall asleep during the procedure. According to most dental experts, oral conscious sedation is safer than general anesthetic treatments. Why? Because the latter requires more intense monitoring from the dental team. It however does not put the patient completely to sleep for the duration of the procedure.
2. Intravenous (IV) Conscious Sedation
Intravenous or IV conscious sedation includes moderate to deep sedation in patients going through lengthy dental procedures. The Anaesthetist injects a sedative into your bloodstream via an IV line in your arm, resulting in a trance-like state. It’s significant to note that patients often confuse this term with general anesthesia (complete unconsciousness), which is a misconception.
Shedding light on the Brisbane sleep dentistry policies, researchers from the University of Queensland emphasize the presence of a registered nurse or sedationist during IV sedation to monitor vital signs, such as heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, blood pressure, and patient response. Overall, it is a safe mode of treatment for patients with dental anxiety. Patients can be kept asleep for the more daunting parts of the procedure and woken up quickly to check progress / take x-rays.
3. Nitrous Sedation
Nitrous sedation or inhaled sedation involves the laughing gas nitrous oxide. Your dentist will administer you with a controlled nitrous oxide dosage through a nosepiece or mask before the oral treatment. The calming effects of the gas will begin within four to five minutes, reducing all the signs of fear or anxiety.
This gas has a rapid onset and recovery rate, making it ideal for patients with unique dental needs. After the procedure, dentists use oxygen to flush the gas out of your system.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation is the quickest one to recover from but also has no sleep affect on the patient. You are fully awake and aware of your surroundings but are relatively calmer.
4. General Anaesthesia
General anesthesia is often described as a part of sedation dentistry, which is partly true. Although in the state of drowsiness, patients are aware of their surroundings during conscious sedation, with general anesthesia, they are completely unconscious. Thus, we refer to it as unconscious sedation.
This form of dental treatment is employed for patients with extreme dental phobias, full clearance and implants or denture replacement of teeth, uncooperative children and patients with intellectual or physical disabilities. All dental procedures can be done under general anaesthesia for these patients, like root canal treatment, fillings, extractions, crowns, bridges, implants, veneers, dentures.
Who is a Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?
From children to young adults, middle aged to the seniors, everyone can opt for dental sedation. However, experts recommend this treatment for people with:
- Wisdom teeth extractions
- Dental treatment of uncooperative kids
- kids needing supernumerary teeth removal
- Dental phobia or anxiety
- Physical or behavioral disability - unable to be treated in a dental chair
- Higher gag reflex
Sedation Dentistry Benefits
Dental phobia affects about 5% of the Australian population with their oral and dental health. Fortunately, sleep dentistry offers a perfect solution against this fear with immense benefits. Let’s discuss some of them below!
1. Relief from Anxiety
Negative dental experiences are the leading cause of dental anxiety in most patients. So much so that they even tolerate the oral discomfort just to avoid a dental visit. However, sleep dentistry allows them to feel comfortable as the dentist follows the treatment procedure. The Dental team can concentrate on the work without interruptions and can manage multiple visits worth of work in one visit (in most cases) hugely reducing repeat appointments which is ideal for anxious patients.
2. Low Intensity of Pain
The brain cannot register the pain while under the influence of heavy sedatives. It’s one of the main reasons patients with higher pain sensitivity prefer dental sedation. They can avoid tooth or gum pain during oral surgery, leading to a more pleasant experience.
3. Lesser Chances of Gag Reflex
Many people have exaggerated gag reflexes that cause distress amid dental treatment. It can even lead to surgical complications. Well! Sedation dentistry solves that problem, too. It allows dentists to perform the procedure while the patient relaxes under the influence of drugs.
Sleep Dentistry Brisbane
Sedation dentistry is now an integral part of dentistry all around the globe. If we talk about Sleep Dentistry Brisbane, our clinicians have acquired all relevant qualifications to practice this form of sedation dental treatment on the patients. Moreover, they also comply with the Dental Board of Australia registration standards and follow the strict procedures and guidelines provided.
Sleep Dentistry Costs
Sedation dentistry cost can vary based on the type of sedation, appointment duration, or procedure complexity. However, the average sedation cost can range from $500 to $1000 (IV Dentistry 1 hour- medicare rebates available) $500-$2000 (GA Dentistry - health fund rebates available) .
It’s better to book an appointment with a sedation dentist near you and address your concerns to see how they can help you achieve your dental goals.
Contact Sleep Dentistry Brisbane for Expert Dental Care
Are you also avoiding a dental visit due to anxiety or phobia? Well! There’s no more need to put your dental health on stake.
Sleep Dentistry Brisbane has a solution to end all your worries. Whether an emergency wisdom tooth removal, or a pre-surgical consultation, our professional team is dedicated to provide you with an all-inclusive, pain-free dental treatment experience. So, book a sedation dental consultation with us if you’re in Brisbane / Gold coast / Sunshine Coast and enjoy a fulfilling life with happy and healthy teeth!
If you have more queries, visit the closest Sleep Dentistry Brisbane clinic near you or contact us straight away!