Dental Sedation

Are you nervous about coming to the dentist?

Does the thought of needing dental treatment make you feel pale, makes your heart race and hands go clammy? Don’t worry, it’s common to feel anxious about visiting the Dentist. At Northcote Dental we have a solution for you. If you are a nervous patient, we offer sedation options so you can feel more relaxed during your dental treatment.

Sedation and What It Is

Sedation and What It Is

What Is Sedation?

Sedation involves the use of a sedative agent to help your maintain a calm, restful state during dental treatment. When you are sedated, all your nerves will be calmed while you are still conscious and able to respond to voice prompts. In some cases of sedation, patients can have no recollection of their dental appointment.

Types of Sedation We Offer

Types of Sedation We Offer

Oral Sedation

This is a sedative that is given in a tablet or liquid form. Your dentist will give this medication to you about 1 hour before your dental appointment.

IV Sedation

This is a sedative that is given through a small injection into your arm. Your dentist will give this medication a few minutes before your dental appointment. It works very quickly so you will start to feel drowsy and relaxed soon after the injection. IV sedation is recommended as the ideal sedation as the level of sedation is more predictable than oral sedation.

For both oral and IV sedation, the effects of sedation can last a couple of hours. For safety reasons, you must have someone to take your home and look after you following your dental appointment. You will not be able to drive or return to work on the day of your treatment.

Some Frequently Asked Questions on Sedation

Sedation is safe when given by an experienced dentist. Our dentists at Northcote Dental have been treating many patient every year with sedation. As with any medical procedure, there are risks of sedation however these risks are rare. Patients with some existing medical conditions may have a higher risk of complications. Your dentist will carefully review your medical history with you to make sure it is safe for you to be sedated. You should also talk to your dentist about any concerns you may have before being sedated.

It is not uncommon to experience some side effects with sedation until it wears off completely. Most people who have had sedation will feel drowsy during the day of sedation. You may feel tired, sluggish, have slower speech and have slower reflexes. It is also common to have a little memory loss, especially of the dental appointment. People sometimes have low blood pressure after being sedated and occasionally feel a bit sick or have a slight headache. These side effects usually wear off in a few hours. It is important that you rest after a sedation appointment and not return to work, drive a vehicle, or operate machinery. If you have concerns with any of the side effects of sedation please give us a ring at Northcote Dental.

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Have a look at the wide range of dental services we offer and contact us to make an appointment today!