Fear of going to the dentist? Many people admit feeling a little anxious as they approach the dentist’s chair. It’s a perfectly normal reaction.
Dental phobia – or a high level of dental fear – is not that uncommon, either.
Around 5 per cent of Australians – or as many as 1 in 6 adults and 1 in 10 children – suffer from severe dental fear, according to the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health.
If you have dental anxiety you’re more likely to avoid regular dental check ups, which can lead to poor dental health, untreated dental decay and gum disease.
But there need not be stress and anxiety when you or your children visit the dentist for a routine check up or dental treatment.
The best family dental centres should offer you sedation dentistry or sleep dentistry.
In this article – you’ll find out:
- What may be causing your dental anxiety
- Calming techniques your dentist can use to help you relax
- The difference between sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry, and when each technique may be used
- Types of sleep sedation your dentist is most likely to use
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Common causes of dental stress and anxiety
It’s perfectly normal to feel slightly uncomfortable or anxious if you’re about to have intensive treatment, such as a tooth extraction.
But getting overly stressed out often leads to last-minute cancelled appointments or simply failing to turn up on dentist day. This type of dental fear or phobia can have a variety of causes.
Common reasons for dental stress and anxiety are:
- Previous bad dental experience at a different dental centre
- Fear of needles and feeling pain
- Not knowing what will happen or fear something going wrong
- Having a higher gag reflex and fear of vomiting
Left unresolved, dental anxiety can lead to severe dental fear or phobia. Any worsening dental conditions remain untreated for longer, and will eventually need intensive and costly dentistry work.
Calming techniques your dentist may use before starting treatment
A family dental centre may provide some simple calming techniques, especially if you’re taking your children for a regular check-up or treatment.
This may typically involve:
- Introducing members of staff who will be assisting the dentist
- Simply describe items of dental equipment to be used in your treatment
- Relaxing music playing in the background
Your experienced, friendly dentist should also explain:
- What they will be doing at each stage, before and during treatment
- The signal you should give to show you want the dentist to take a break during treatment
Fear of needles: Before treatment starts is also the time to let your dentist know if you don’t like needles. Your dentist can apply a numbing gel to the needle injection site, which is in addition to any local or general anaesthetic you will have.
What’s the difference between sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry?
It can be confusing! But sedation dentistry is not the same as sleep dentistry.
- Sleep dentistry – uses a general anaesthetic so you are unconscious throughout your dental treatment.
- Sedation dentistry – uses different types of medicinal techniques to put you in a relaxed but still conscious state, and you will not feel any pain.
Sleep Dentistry
Sedation is delivered directly via a vein to your bloodstream using an intravenous (IV) tube. You will be fully unconscious so your dentist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels throughout the treatment. Dosage can be adjusted up or down at any point where required.
Your dentist is likely to recommend the use of a general anaesthetic if you or your children suffer from high dental anxiety or phobia. Or your children are being uncooperative.
Sleep dentistry will also be strongly advised if you or your children have physical or behavioural problems which may make treatment difficult for your dentist to carry out.
You may also opt for sleep dentistry if your dental treatment is for:
- Teeth extraction, such as wisdom teeth
- Dental implants
- Root canal treatment
- Crowns and veneers
- Full mouth reconstruction
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is sometimes confused with sleep dentistry because both offer a form of intravenous (IV) sedation.
However, sedation dentistry can be given by other methods, all of which are also intended to put you in a semi-drowsy, relaxed state.
REMEMBER: You’ll still be partially conscious but you will not feel any pain or discomfort.
3 common types of sedation dentistry
Your local family dental centre may offer one or more of the following types of sedation dentistry:
Nitrous Oxide gas
A combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide – also popularly known as ‘laughing gas’ – which is inhaled through a face mask. Pure oxygen is given after treatment to remove the nitrous oxide.
What you should know:
- A light meal and drink is permitted up to two hours before treatment starts.
- Short recovery time of 5-10 minutes, allowing you to drive home, if fully recovered.
- Little to no side effects, other than perhaps, drowsiness and slight nausea
Intravenous (IV)
Given through a cannula – a thin tube inserted into a vein in the arm.
What you should know:
- No food or drink to be consumed for 6 hours before treatment starts. No alcohol for 24 hours. Water is permitted up to 2 hours beforehand.
- Longer recovery time of around 30 minutes allows for more than one treatment to be carried out in one visit. You will be unable to drive home during the extended recovery time.
- Minimal side effects, which can last up to 12 hours, and may include headaches and nausea.
Oral medication
Sedation is given in a pill or liquid form which is to be taken around an hour before treatment starts.
The medication makes you feel more relaxed by temporarily slowing brain activity and can give you temporary forgetfulness after treatment is completed.
What you should know:
- Thorough medical history to be carried out by your dentist to avoid the risk of complications.
- Longer period of time elapses before the sedation takes effect.
- Your body’s response to dosage may be different and adjustment also difficult.
- Minimal side effects but they may include prolonged drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, headaches or an allergic reaction.
- Temporary forgetfulness means you will need to be driven to and from the dentist.
Summary
A mild form of dental anxiety is not unusual. But more extreme stress, fear and dental phobia can affect as many as 5 per cent of Australian adults and children.
Extreme dental anxiety can mean dental decay or gum disease can be left untreated leading to further severe damage that will be costly to treat.
Your local dental centre should offer stress-reducing, calming techniques to help patients relax and better able to undergo checkups and treatment.
Sleep sedation – can be used for patients with the most extreme forms of dental anxiety and fear. A general anaesthetic is given by injection which will mean you or your child is asleep throughout and will not feel any pain.
Dentistry sedation – is a mild to moderate form of medication which means you or your children are semi-conscious but will also not feel any pain or discomfort.
The most common forms of dentistry sedation are Nitrous gas inhalation, IV injection or Oral medication (pills or medicine).
FAQs
Is sedation dentistry safe for everyone?
Yes! All ages can have sedation dentistry. It should be given by a trained and qualified dentist who should discuss the benefits and any potential risks, such as an allergic reaction or changes in heart rate or blood pressure.
I have a medical condition- am I suitable for IV sedation dentistry?
Your dentist may advise an alternative option if you have a liver, kidney or nervous system disorder, severe obstructive sleep apnoea, a BMI above 40, are a diabetic on insulin or previously received radiation therapy.
After sedation dentistry will I be able to go to work the next day?
It’s possible you may still feel drowsy and tired after IV sedation so it may be best to wait a further 12 hours before returning safely to work.
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