Afraid of the Dentist? Sedation Is the Gentle Answer
Although today’s dental treatments are almost pain-free, plenty of people are still afraid of the dentist. And ‘afraid’ is the right word: an unpleasant experience in the past or a failed treatment can leave serious emotional scars.
The consequences speak for themselves: fear of pain is so strong that many people put off dental treatment until the very last moment – when the tooth can only be saved by major intervention.
With sedation, there’s no more putting off treatment
Data on how many people suffer from dental phobia is somewhat contradictory, but estimates suggest around 10–15% of the Western European population is affected in some form. One university survey also found that fear of the dentist is more common among women than men.
While around 5% of women don’t dare set foot in a dental practice, the figure for men is about 3%. Those numbers may sound small, but for these patients there is now a solution: sedation – a way to let go of the fear and stop postponing that dental visit!
What exactly is sedation?
Sedation is not general anaesthesia! The purpose of the procedure is to switch off anxiety during treatments such as implant placement or the removal of a diseased tooth.
Intravenously administered sedatives calm the patient into a pleasant, sleep-like state, free of pain and anxiety. Isn’t that good news for anyone who’s scared of the very word ‘dentist’?
What does sedation feel like?
A hallmark of sedation is that anxiety is switched off, and afterwards you remember practically nothing of what you used to dread – the sound of the drill, the unpleasant smells. And, perhaps surprisingly, you remain able to follow your dentist’s instructions throughout.
You can rinse, open and close your mouth when asked, and signal if anything doesn’t feel right. The result: no bad memories, a positive recollection of your treatment – and no more fear of visiting the dentist.
What exactly should you know about sedation?
Let’s run through the key facts about sedation!
1. Sedation is suitable for almost everyone, with a few exceptions. Exclusion factors include pregnancy, a current respiratory illness, or the first three months after a heart attack.
2. Sedation is preceded by a thorough anaesthetic assessment, and your vital signs are monitored continuously during the procedure, so nothing unexpected can catch us out.
3. It’s very important not to eat for 4–5 hours before the procedure, and to stop drinking water at least 2 hours beforehand. If you take any medication, you can take it in the morning with a small sip of water.
4. Alcohol is strictly forbidden on the day of treatment, as it can cause acute intoxication. You should avoid driving, and it’s wise to postpone important decisions until later.
5. We monitor you for 1–2 hours after the procedure, after which you can head home with your companion to rest.
Which treatments do we recommend sedation for?
Sedation is generally recommended for longer, more complex treatments: oral surgery, implant placement, or when several procedures are combined in one session.
And of course, sedation is a great solution for anyone whose fear of the dentist is so strong that they couldn’t get through treatment without it.
If fear alone has kept you from getting your teeth treated – or you simply want no bad memories afterwards – choose sedation, and forget pain and unpleasant experiences for good!