Dental Sedation

Any person who is in need of dental treatment, either for health or cosmetic purposes, but has anxiety and fear about undergoing treatment, or has an extreme fear of needles, is likely to benefit from sedation dentistry.

People who have painful, extremely sensitive teeth or problems with a local anaesthetic may find it difficult to cooperate with the dentist during dental treatment. These patients can be made to feel more relaxed with sedation.

Anyone who has had a frightening or traumatic previous dental experience may be nervous about getting back into the dental chair. Sedation can help to overcome this. In addition, patients with a severe gag reflex or people who suffer from medical conditions that render them unable to control their bodily movements, such as Parkinson’s disease, can benefit from the physical relaxation of sedation.

Nitrous oxide-based inhalation sedation can help unlock the confidence anxious and dental phobic patients need for undergoing dental treatment. It is a method of sedation administered through a nose mask and induces powerful feelings of wellbeing in patients.

Whilst inhalation sedation is administered using a mask, IV sedation involves administering sedation through a needle on the back of the hand, or in the arm.

You may be suitable for inhalation sedation if you have minor or moderate levels of anxiety prior to a dental procedure. In cases where dental anxiety is severe, your dentist is more likely to recommend IV (intravenous) sedation using a Midazolam sedative.

This method of sedation will induce a warm feeling of wellbeing and reduce inhibitions and nerves you might normally have when considering undergoing dental treatment. Your dentist will administer local anaesthetic to numb the treatment site once the sedation has taken full effect.

• This type of sedation is compatible alongside virtually any dental procedure. Some of the most common include:
  • Fillings
  • Root canal therapy.
  • Extractions

• Reduces anxiety for the duration of a dental procedure.
• Feel more relaxed throughout a dental procedure.
• Needleless administration method.
• Minimal downtime.
• No lingering effect post-treatment (no grogginess or ‘hangover’ sensation).
• Reduces gag reflex in patients.

We understand that there can be huge barriers for children when it comes to visiting the dentist for a procedure. Inhalation sedation is an excellent means of putting your child at ease and allows them to remain fully awake and responsive.

Our practice environment is calm and welcoming, and our dentists will always be respectful of your child’s limitations and boundaries. This, couple with inhalation sedation, can make a huge difference to your child’s future perspective on dentist visits as an adult. For this reason, we place significant emphasis on using formative years at the dentist to build your child’s confidence and trust in caring dental professionals such as ourselves here at Cheadle Hulme

As the nitrous oxide is administered through a mask, patients will need to be comfortable wearing breathing through a nose mask throughout their procedure. Therefore, inhalation sedation may not be suitable for patients who:

• Are not able or willing to breathe through their nose.
• May feel claustrophobic wearing a mask for more than a few minutes.
• Have recently undergone facial surgery.
• Suffer from respiratory conditions like COPD.