Supporting Comfort With Sedation Dentistry
Dental anxiety is common and can make visits to the dentist feel challenging. For some people, this may lead to postponing or avoiding appointments, which can delay important dental care.
Research suggests that many Australians experience some level of dental anxiety. These feelings can contribute to added stress and discomfort before and during treatment. Additionally, by delaying or ignoring intervention, there is a risk greater problems which can affect the health can evolve.
At Dental Boutique™, we understand these concerns and are here to support patients with compassion and care. Our team takes time to listen, explain treatment options clearly, and work with each patient to make their visit more comfortable.
In this video: Dr John Vu (DEN0002584394) – Registered Dentist, General Registration
What is Sleep Dentistry?
Anxiety can be a real issue, but it’s an issue that can be alleviated with the right solutions. One common resource today is sleep dentistry.
Sleep Dentistry is the process of performing dental procedures while the patient is induced with general anaesthesia (GA), causing a patient to “sleep” while going through the process.
A general anaesthetic dentist brings patients under a state of extreme calm which can even lead to the patient having no memory of any part of the procedure whatsoever. General anaesthesia brings relaxation to the body’s nerve systems for a given amount of time.
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The Numbers Don’t Lie
Statistics show that more and more patients prefer “sleeping” during dental procedures or a great number of patients prefer to be heavily sedated in dental treatments. And with the technologies we provide here at Dental Boutique, we are here to help this.
7.2%
Patients prefer sedation for cleaning procedures.
18%
Of patients prefer sedation for fillings or crowns.
54.7%
Of patients prefer sedation for endodontics.
68.2%
Of patients prefer sedation for periodontal surgery.
46.5%
Of patients prefer sedation for tooth extraction.
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Real people,
real cases
The outcomes shown in the videos above are only relevant to these patients and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Treatment risks and considerations can be found here.
Who Needs Sleep Dentistry?
Patients who feel anxious or fearful about dental treatment
For some people, sedation may help make the experience feel more manageable and less stressful
Patients with past negative dental experiences
Previous dental visits may have felt difficult or distressing for some people. At Dental Boutique™, we take time to listen and support patients who have these concerns. In certain cases, sleep dentistry can be considered as an option to help make treatment feel more manageable.
Patients with general anxiety disorders.
For some, this may be related to needles, the sound of dental equipment, or general feelings of anxiety. At Dental Boutique™, we understand these concerns and will work with you to discuss options that may help make your visit more comfortable.
Patients with low tolerance for pain.
Some patients have very sensitive oral nerve endings. If that’s you then a level of sleep dentistry could be helpful.
Patients with resistance to local anesthetics.
In some cases, patients may feel that standard local anaesthesia does not provide sufficient relief. For these situations, our team can discuss additional sedation options that may be more suitable.
Patients with small mouths.
People with small mouths can often tire from keeping their mouth open through a long procedure. Sleep dentistry can help minimise discomfort during a procedure.
Providing Sleep Dentistry Near You
We have expanded our service locations. Currently, you can receive our sleep dentistry or Intravenous or IV sedation at our Auckland location.
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Alternatives to Sleep Dentistry
At Dental Boutique™, we have invested time and resources to grow our knowledge in anxiety reducing options to help our patients. Sleep dentistry is not always the options and sometimes may not be suitable for all patients, here are a few other alternatives to sleep dentistry that we also have available:
Relaxation Techniques
There are different relaxation techniques that can aim to help you get through your anxiety problems on the dental chair. We love teaching these techniques to anyone who wants to learn and apply them.
The simplest of the techniques is controlled breathing. By breathing well and right, you feel more relaxed and calm when the fear starts to set in. Another alternative is listening to music. We provide our patients with headsets that can allow them to take their minds off things as we do our work.
Creating Comfort Signals
Some patients want to be up and alert during procedures to ensure they have control. With this, we usually create comfort signals that our patients can use whenever things don’t go the way they would want them to. These signals can be as simple as raising one’s hand once in discomfort.
Gas Inhalation
Gas inhalation can help you relax through the process. It can help relieve you of fear and anxiety while still being able to respond and be in control during the procedure. After the procedure is done, the effects of gas dissipate quite quickly.
IV Sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation is a technique where medication is administered through a vein to help patients feel more relaxed during dental treatment. While patients remain conscious, some may have little or no memory of the procedure afterwards. The effects generally take place quickly, and the level of sedation can be adjusted by the anaesthetist based on individual needs.
Needle-Free and Computer-Assisted Anaesthesia Options
Advances in dental technology now allow for alternatives to traditional injections. One option uses a small, spring-operated device that delivers anaesthetic into the gum as a fine jet of liquid in a very short time — without the use of a needle.
We also use computer-assisted systems that control the flow of anaesthetic. By regulating the delivery more steadily, these systems may help improve patient comfort during treatment.
Over 150,000 patients seen and counting...
Please note that the outcome shown in the image is only relevant for this patient and does not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Results, risks, complications, and recovery times vary by person and procedure.
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questions?
We invite you to a no pressure, no-obligation consultation at our clinic to see how we can help you. Our friendly, highly trained team is passionate about healthy smiles. With our extensive experience, we’ll discuss all your options and tailor treatment to fit your budget and lifestyle. Our team is here to help, so feel free to ask us anything.
Flexible Payment Options Available
At Dental Boutique™, we believe patients should feel informed about both their treatment and the costs involved. Payment options are available to help make this process easier to manage.
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