Most people are likely to feel apprehensive about undergoing dental implants in Manchester because let’s face it, it’s an invasive procedure and you probably wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. But what if you were extremely nervous about attending gentler, less invasive treatments such as a dental check-up or when being fitted with orthodontic braces? Manchester patients who feel this way can rest assured that they are not alone.
According to the British Dental Association as many as one in three of us suffer from some type of dental anxiety. One solution that dentists have up their sleeve is a technique known as dental sedation. Manchester dentists use it to calm and relax nervous patients; but what exactly is it and how does it work?
Otherwise known as sedation dentistry it’s designed to take away most, if not all of a patient’s anxiety, enabling them to truly relax in the dentist’s chair. It can be used on a wide number of procedures from simple hygiene cleans through to root canal therapy and dental implants. Manchester dentists have the ability to control the levels of anaesthetic administered which can keep a patient in a wide variety of states. These range from minimal sedation where patients are fully awake but relaxed, to moderate sedation where patients remain awake but have no memory of the procedure; through to deep sedation where patients are on the edge of consciousness, through to full blown general anaesthesia where patients remain unconscious. In most forms of dentistry only minimal and moderate sedation are used. So how is it administered?
Inhaled sedation
Firstly you can inhale the anaesthetic which is in the form of nitrous oxide. More commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ it keeps the patient in a relaxed and carefree state. The ‘gas’ wears of quickly with no side effects and dentists can easily control the amount of gas administered to ensure the patient remains at the right level of consciousness throughout the procedure.
Oral sedation
Oral sedation is administered in pill form and typically it’s Halcion. This is a member of the Valium family of drugs and is designed to make you feel drowsy. Usually taken one hour before the appointment/treatment it’s used in minimal to moderate sedation cases. Unlike inhaled sedation it takes a few hours to clear from the body so it isn’t advised that patient’s drive home.
IV sedation
Used to put anxious or nervous patients in a moderate state of dental sedation, Manchester patients will find that dentists utilise this method for patients undergoing relatively invasive procedures such as root canal therapy or dental implants. Manchester dentists often prefer it to oral sedation because just like inhaled sedation, the anaesthetist will have better control over the levels of sedation. As a result levels can be adjusted accordingly to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Because the anaesthetic is received via a catheter in the back of the hand, it’s also fast working.
Whether you need a simple filling, dental implants, or braces, Manchester dentists have the procedures in place to make you feel as calm and relaxed as possible. So if you feel anxious or nervous in any way, then tell us and we can help. For further information on how we help anxious patients why not contact us on 0161 486 0743 today and don’t let a fear of the dentist stop you from having necessary or vital treatment.
