Sedation Dentistry
Sedation Dentist in Guildford, Surrey
Is there anything that can help me with my fear of the dentist?
Sedation Dentistry, sometimes called Relaxation Dentistry, refers to the way dentists manage Pain and Anxiety during dental appointments.
Yes. Some people are so scared of the dentist that they will not go for dental treatment. They can overcome their fears with relaxation or sedation. Our team is sympathetic about these feelings, and you can ask our dentist about these ways to help.
Our Options
Dental Sedation Options for Nervous Patients in Guildford & Surrey
We offer a range of sedation options tailored to your needs:
- Oral (Medication)
- Inhalation Sedation
- IV Sedation
- Hypnotherapy
Oral Sedation
A simple pill to ease anxiety
Oral sedation is prescribed for relieving anxiety in the hours immediately before a dental appointment. Not only do these medications have a sedative effect, they also have some degree of amnesic effect for most people. Patients remember little or nothing about their dental appointment.
Advantages of Dental Oral Sedation
- Easy to administer — swallow a small pill
- Works well for most people
- Safe and easy to monitor
- Low cost
Inhalation Sedation
Laughing Gas — relax with a gentle breath
You can be helped to feel relaxed by ‘relative analgesia’, sometimes known as inhalation sedation. This means breathing in a mixture of gases (‘laughing gas’) which quickly leads to a pleasant, relaxed feeling. You remain conscious all the time, although you may be a little drowsy, and any treatment given causes you no discomfort.
You breathe in the mixture through a nosepiece, which is very comfortable. You can’t overdose on the gas, as the mixture quickly leaves the body if you breathe in one or two breaths of ordinary air. There are no after-effects either, and you can drive a car after about 15 minutes. This is the most frequently used sedation method in dentistry, and it is suitable for young children and teenagers too.
Advantages of Dental Inhalation Sedation
- Rapid onset
- Flexible duration — used for any appointment length
- Absolute control — easy to alter the level of sedation moment to moment
- Quick recovery
- Very few side effects
- Has an analgesic effect
- You can return to normal activities immediately
IV Sedation
Deeper relaxation for more involved treatment
Intravenous sedation, or “IV sedation”, is designed to better enable you to undergo your treatment while you are very relaxed. It will enable you to tolerate procedures and not remember those that may be unpleasant for you, making it more effective than inhalation sedation. IV sedation essentially helps alleviate the anxiety and nervousness associated with treatment. You may not always be asleep, but you will be comfortable, calm and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep.
IV sedation/anaesthesia is administered and monitored by our sedationist as he is performing dentistry, eliminating the costly expense of having your treatment carried out in a hospital.
How is IV Sedation Administered?
A thin needle will be introduced into a vein in your arm or hand. Some patients may be asleep while others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with medical conditions and/or on specific drug regimens may only be lightly sedated and may not sleep at all.
The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. With IV sedation, a constant “drip” is maintained via the intravenous tube. At any time an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if required. IV sedation is very safe.
Book Your Appointment
Contact Woodbridge Dental today if you have any queries about the sedation services we provide. Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–3pm. Call 01483 568 584 or email reception@woodbridgedental.co.uk.
Hypnotherapy
The quieting of the conscious mind
Hypnosis could be described as the quieting of the conscious mind. People enter this state spontaneously every day — for example when lost in thought or daydreaming, working out in the gym, reading, listening to music, surfing the web, or driving on ‘auto pilot’.
Some applications of hypnosis in dentistry include controlling a strong gag reflex, treating chronic facial pain, modifying unwanted habits such as teeth grinding, and much more. Hypnosis works extremely well with some people, but they would require a relevant assessment.
It works by accessing the unconscious mind and placing new, positive instructions there — a little like reprogramming yourself to how you’d like to think and feel. It is a very natural state, just like daydreaming.
FAQs
Sedation Dentist in Surrey — your questions answered
Fear of the dentist is more common than you might think. You may have put off appointments due to worries of painful procedures, negative past experiences, or a phobia of needles. A Surrey-based sedation dentist can answer your questions and provide a tailored, caring alternative so you get the treatment you want.
Why am I so nervous to see my dentist?+
Common reasons include past negative experiences, particularly sensitive teeth, resistance to local anaesthetic, embarrassment about your teeth, gag reflex, fear of drills or needles, or general high anxiety. If any of these resonate, you may be a candidate for sedation dentistry.
What is sedation dentistry?+
What are my options for sedation?+
Will I be awake for the procedure?+
Can children be sedated?+
Will it be painful?+
How long will the procedure take?+
How quickly will I recover from the sedative?+
Are there any risks?+
Our Commitment to You
At Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice, we believe that beauty is more than skin deep. That’s why we focus on understanding your desires and expectations, crafting a tailored treatment plan that reflects your unique beauty.
Visit Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice in Guildford
Get in touch to arrange your consultation, restorative care or a general examination with our friendly team.
Practice Details
- Phone:
- 01483568584
- Online Booking
- Address:
- 49A Woodbridge Hill, Guildford GU2 9ZD
- Opening Hours:
- Mon–Fri 8:00 – 18:00 | Saturday: 8:00 – 15:00