What is dental sedation?

I write this blog as I reflect on the care our team provide. I have looked at some of the life changing dental treatments that have been provided at our clinic and I ask myself, “how many of these treatments would have been possible without sedation?”. Many patients have put off dental care in the past due to anxiety associated with the procedure. We have been able to help many patients finally overcome this obstacle by providing them the dental treatment they need using a relaxed and calming approach. This life changing case example (pictures) was only possible due to sedation. In fact, this patient had put off dental care for over 20 years due to his nervousness about the possible dental procedures he may need.

One of the biggest myths about dental sedation is that it is only for ‘really nervous’ patients. Simply being nervous about dentistry doesn’t explain the many reasons and benefits of providing sedation dentistry.

We often find that many patients are comfortable having routine dental examinations and assessments without sedation but they may undergo more lengthy and extensive dental treatment with the aid of sedation. This will help them relax whilst undergoing the dental treatment that they need.

Yes it’s true that nervous patients will benefit from sedation however, even patients who are not nervous may wish to consider IV sedation whilst undergoing certain lengthy, more invasive procedures.

At our clinic, Dr Hannah Wilson provides patients with IV sedation where necessary. We have helped many patients undergo treatment that they may have been putting off due to the sense of anxiety associated with their treatment requirement. By delaying dental treatment, a lot of patients go on to develop more advanced and serious issues in the future. However, with IV sedation, Dr Hannah Wilson is able to help patients have the treatment they need in a timely manner regardless of any anxiety that may have been associated with this.

Intravenous (IV) sedation is one of the most common ways to help nervous patients deal with dental anxiety. IV sedation is a safe and effective way for nervous patients to undergo dental treatment. It involves the use of Midazolam, a sedative used to help patients relax, leaving you with little or no recollection of the procedure. You can read all about sedation dentistry on our dedicated page by clicking this link. 

Sedation in dentistry enables us to provide treatment to those patients who would otherwise be forced to negelect their dental health due to the anxiety associated with the procedure. It is a key service in our clinic which helps us ensure that no patient is missing out on the dental care they need and deserve.

Thank you for reading,

Mohsin Patel BDS MJDF RCS (Eng)