The Whys And Wherefores Of Dental Sedation Manchester

21 September 2015

The Whys And Wherefores Of Dental Sedation Manchester

For anyone, a visit to a Church Road dentist probably isn’t something that they’re likely to relish. In fact there’s a strong chance that a tinge of apprehension is going to creep in at some stage, even if it’s only for a routine check-up. Even though modern technology and patient-friendly practices make a visit to a 21st century dentist more appealing, did you know that 12% of the UK population suffer from full-blown dental phobia? What’s more an estimated one in four of us suffer from some sort of anxiety before a visit.

So how are dental clinics getting round this problem? The answer lies in dental sedation. Manchester clinics such as ours recognise that dental anxiety is a real problem as phobias of needles, sounds of dental drills, and even clinical smells can be enough to bring on a serious bout of anxiety in many people. With this in mind, dental sedation is designed to help a patient have the treatment they need by making them feel relaxed and care-free throughout the duration of their visit. This means that more invasive treatments such as dental implants, root canals and even orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign Manchester can be carried out.

So what exactly is dental sedation and how does it work?

Firstly dental sedation isn’t only for phobic patients. It can also be used for patients who may find it uncomfortable to undergo the dental treatment they need. It’s designed to place the patient in a relaxed and happy state but, just like a local anaesthetic, the patient remains awake. Here at our Church Road dentist we use it alongside pain-free dental techniques to make the overall experience a pleasant one. Dental sedation takes on several forms and these are

• Inhalation
• Ingestion
• Absorption

Let’s take a closer look at each one in turn.

Inhalation

With the inhalation method, carefully controlled amounts of nitrous oxide and oxygen are breathed in by the patient via a small clip which is placed over the nose. More commonly known as laughing gas, it has no colour or smell and causes no irritation. A pleasurable feeling is induced which can rise to euphoria, almost like a happy drunk feeling without the alcohol and the after effects. Most patients when under the spell of nitrous oxide have no concept of time and will have little or no recollection of the procedure even though they remained awake. Recovery is usually instantaneous and patients shouldn’t feel groggy, allowing then to drive home after 5 minutes or so.

Ingestion

Otherwise known as oral sedation this form of dental sedation in Manchester comes in the form of an anti-anxiety pill or Benzodiazepines. These are designed to block out fear receptors in the parts of the brain that generate anxiety and although they are perfectly safe they’re less commonly used in the UK. They create the same relaxed care-free feeling as nitrous oxide, but they can make you feel a little groggy for a while afterwards. For this reason it’s best not to drive for a few hours after treatment. In order for the pill to take effect a patient needs to take the prescribed dose around one hour before commencing any treatment.

Absorption

The final and arguably most common form of dental sedation is intravenous sedation. As the name suggests IV sedation is delivered via a small catheter which is inserted into the back of the hand. From this a carefully controlled amount of sedative is delivered via a tube. It induces a feeling of deep relaxation with the patient not at all bothered about what’s happening around them. IV sedation doesn’t have to be used solely for invasive dental surgery either. Dental sedation techniques such as these can also be used to help those with severe gag reflexes which is ideal when dealing with orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign in Manchester.

So there you have it, all you need to know about dental sedation. At our Church Road dentist we take dental fears and phobias seriously and will do everything we can to make sure a patient is as happy and relaxed as they can be in order to receive the treatment they deserve. To find out more about how dental sedation Manchester can help you overcome your dental fears contact us via our website at www.cheadlehulmedental.com or call us direct on 01614 860 743 to book yourself a sedation consultation. Remember you don’t have to let your fears dictate your oral and overall health!