Sedation

We aim to make your visit to our dental practice as pleasant as possible. We know that some patients have difficulty getting comfortable during dental treatments. Sedation can help.
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Relax in the Dentist’s Chair

Anxiety and fear are common associations with dentistry, which may encourage patients to put off their check-ups. It’s problematic when patients avoid the dentist because they’re afraid — unfortunately, staying away only compounds any dental issues you have.

If this rings true for you, you need to see a compassionate practice, like The Nightingale Clinic. Our team has calming techniques for patients and options for sedation to help you relax, so you can get the dental treatment you need.

Sedation is a common aid to help patients conquer pain or anxiety during an appointment. It can be used to alleviate discomfort in patients with sensitive nerves, small mouths or those enduring long or invasive procedures.

What is Dental Sedation?

Conscious sedation is an option we have in our dental practice to help patients comfortably receive treatment. Sedation eases patient stress and anxiety and provides relief for dental treatments you may feel unable to endure on your own.

Our practice is qualified to offer single- and multi-drug sedation which is used in conjunction with local anaesthesia for our patients, depending on your needs.

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Benefits of Sedation

We appreciate when patients tell us whether they’re fearful of the dentist because we’re able to do something about it before starting any treatment.
Using sedation on these types of patients benefits both you and your practitioner, as sedation:
  • Controls your anxiety, giving you a better experience
  • Suppresses the pain, making your visit more comfortable
  • Provides a degree of amnesia, so you don’t recall memories of invasive dental work
  • Offsets and manages any triggers (and the fight or flight response) when you hear or see dental tools
  • Allows us to complete multiple procedures without causing you distress
READ ABOUT CONSCIOUS SEDATION

Different Levels of Sedation

We assess each patient and determine which type of sedation will work best to help you feel comfortable throughout your dental treatment. The Nightingale Clinic dentists may recommend:

Nitrous Oxide

Better known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide helps patients stay calm during procedures. This option is the least invasive and safest for many patients. Patients remain conscious using this type of sedation, breathing in the nitrous oxide through a mask that fits over your nose. For some patients, this mild sedation provides sufficient relaxation to get through a dental appointment. The effects of this treatment wear off quickly once you stop breathing the gas.

IV Sedation

IV sedation offers variations of consciousness based on your needs. We may offer this type of sedation to severely anxious patients. During sedation, you remain conscious. This means you retain all your reflexes and you can also react to verbal instructions. It is unlikely that you will remember the procedure afterwards. If you receive IV sedation, you need to have somebody drive you home after the appointment and stay with you until the sedation wears off.

Safe Sedation Practices, Always

We adhere to the highest standards of dental care for all of our treatments, including sedation. Sedation dentistry is safe for both children and adults when administered by a trained dental practitioner. We follow strict medical guidelines to ensure patients receive an appropriate amount of sedation safely.

Prior to offering a patient sedation, we review your health history, and only administer sedation to patients suited to this treatment. Throughout your appointment, we monitor your vital signs, and take you off sedation at the conclusion of your dental treatment.

Preparing for Dental Sedation

Our team of dentists and dental professionals are excellent communicators, and they will let you know what to expect on the day of your appointment. If you are coming to the practice for a dental procedure with sedation, here are a few helpful tips to prepare:
  • Come hydrated to your appointment
  • Wear comfortable clothes
  • Plan for a safe ride home with a friend or family member
  • Avoid making plans following IV sedation
READ ABOUT CONSCIOUS SEDATION

How Do You Feel About Visiting the Dentist?

The Nightingale Clinic welcomes all patients, regardless of your feelings toward the dentist. We’re here to provide you with a dental experience that makes you feel comfortable throughout every appointment. Before your treatment, please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your visit more relaxing.