Sedation

What is Sedation?

What is Sedation?

No one likes having dental treatment but many of us manage to accept it with a local anaesthetic injection in the gum. Some of us however require alternative methods of pain and anxiety control. This is where conscious sedation can help you.

Carly Mellor, and Kathleen Byrne have a special interest in treating anxious patients and run our sedation clinic. They have completed a period of further training in providing sedation for patients, and take referrals of patients from other dental practices.

Unfortunately due to changes in NHS funding, from 1st April 2016 we are no longer able to offer root canal treatments or crowns with sedation on the NHS. Extractions, simple fillings and dentures with sedation will still be available on the NHS.

The practice is equipped with specialist monitoring equipment, with fully trained sedation nurses able to assist with sedated patients.

We offer two types of sedation, Inhalation Sedation and Intravenous sedation with an injection in the arm or hand.

Inhalation Sedation

Inhalation Sedation

In this method of sedation you breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small comfortable nosepiece. You may have heard of this called by other names like “gas & air”, “Entonox” or “Relative Analgesia”. This technique is very safe with a rapid recovery time and is good for treating adults but is especially suited to treating children.

A specially designed machine delivers the gasses and can be adjusted to suit your needs. You may experience a warm tingly floaty feeling which allows you more easily to accept the dental treatment.

Intravenous Sedation

Intravenous Sedation

With this method of sedation a drug called Midazolam is injected into a vein in your arm or the back of your hand. The onset of sedation is rapid and precise. Although you will remain in verbal contact with the dentist and nurses you may well remember very little about your treatment.

Recovery after this technique is slow and you will not be able to leave the premises until advised by your dentist. You will be required to bring a responsible adult with you to escort you home. Once home you will need to be supervised for the rest of the day and you must not drive, operate machinery or make serious decisions for 24 hours after your treatment.

If you feel sedation is right for you discuss it with your dentist who will be able to advise and refer you if necessary.