Statistics show that a staggering 75% of us suffer from some form of dental fear, and 5 – 10% of us have a stronger fear that prevents us from going to the dentist at all – even for hygiene visits!  Avoiding regular dental care, however, often leads to more serious dental problems and therefore more trips to the dental clinic.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a dental method used to help patients manage their fear and get the treatments they need to maintain good oral health.  Using safe doses of sedatives to help calm and relax you before and during a dental treatment, sedation dentistry allows you to temporarily control fear and anxiety.

One of the key benefits of sedation dentistry is that your dentist can complete more dental procedures in a single visit and eliminate the need for multiple visits to correct a problem.  A second key benefit is the amnesia effect it produces.  In essence, patients tend to remember little of a sedation appointment.

Through the use of sedation dentistry, our Nanaimo dentists at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group have helped hundreds of patients to get on track with regular hygiene and dental check-ups and achieve good oral health.

How is sedation dentistry administered?

There are two types of sedatives used for dental sedation at our Nanaimo dental clinic: oral sedatives, which provide deeper levels of sedation; and inhalation sedation, or “laughing gas”, which induces a state of well-being while the gas is inhaled.

After determining your medical history and the level of dental anxiety you suffer from, we will let you know the recommended sedation method for your appointment.  For patients with severe dental anxiety, we may also prescribe a sleep aid to be taken the evening leading up to the visit.

We provide a blanket and pillow to help you relax during the procedure and to ensure your safety, your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels will be monitored continuously.

What does sedation dentistry feel like?

Sedation dentistry quiets the mind and deeply relaxes your body.  The majority of sedation dental patients tend to sleep through the dental visit and not remember much of it although sedation patients remain conscious and will respond to the feedback of the dentist.

Are you a candidate for sedation dentistry?

If you are one of the 10% of people who suffer from a severe fear of the dentist, it’s possible that sedation dentistry could be the solution you’re looking for.  We invite you to book an appointment at our dental clinic to see if sedation dentistry is right for you.