Dental Sedation & Anxiety Management
Dental Sedation & Anxiety Management
At Station St Dental, our first approach is always to provide care in a calm, unhurried environment, explain what is happening and give patients a sense of control over their treatment.
For patients who need additional help to feel comfortable, we also offer nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation sedation (“happy gas”) and, in selected circumstances, other forms of sedation following an individual assessment.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation — “Happy Gas”
Nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation sedation is a well-established form of conscious sedation used in dentistry.
A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is breathed through a small nasal mask during treatment. The level of sedation can be adjusted throughout the appointment to help reduce anxiety and create a feeling of relaxation.
Importantly, you remain awake, responsive and able to communicate with us throughout treatment.
Nitrous oxide can be useful for both adults and children who are apprehensive about dental treatment and may also help patients who find longer or more involved procedures difficult.
What Does Nitrous Oxide Sedation Feel Like?
The experience varies between patients, but people commonly describe feeling more relaxed and less concerned about what is happening around them.
Some notice sensations of warmth, lightness or tingling.
Because the level of sedation can be adjusted during treatment, we can tailor it to the individual patient’s response.
At the end of the procedure, the nitrous oxide is stopped and oxygen is administered. Recovery is generally relatively rapid, although we will provide specific instructions appropriate to your treatment and circumstances.
Oral Sedation
For some adult patients with greater dental anxiety, oral sedation may be considered following an individual consultation and medical assessment.
This involves taking prescribed medication before dental treatment to reduce anxiety and help the patient feel more relaxed.
The effects and level of sedation vary between individuals, so oral sedation requires appropriate planning. Patients receiving oral sedation will need to follow specific pre- and post-treatment instructions and will generally require a responsible adult to accompany them and assist them following the appointment.
We will discuss whether this approach is appropriate for you after considering your medical history, medications, level of anxiety and the dental treatment proposed.
Who May Benefit From Dental Sedation?
Sedation may be considered for patients who:
- Experience significant dental anxiety
- Have had difficult dental experiences in the past
- Find particular procedures challenging
- Have a strong gag reflex
- Find longer appointments difficult to tolerate
- Require more involved dental treatment
- Are children who need additional help to comfortably complete appropriate dental care
Sedation isn’t necessary or appropriate for every anxious patient. Sometimes taking additional time, explaining treatment carefully and gradually building confidence is all that is required.
Sedation Does Not Replace Local Anaesthesia
Sedation and local anaesthesia perform different roles.
Sedation primarily helps with anxiety, relaxation and tolerance of treatment. Where a dental procedure would normally require local anaesthesia, this is still used to make the treatment area comfortable.
For example, selected routine and surgical dental extractions can be performed at Station St Dental under local anaesthesia, with nitrous oxide sedation available when appropriate.
When a Higher Level of Sedation Is Required
There are circumstances where treatment may be better undertaken with a different level of sedation or under general anaesthesia.
Rather than attempting to manage every situation within the practice, we assess the patient’s needs and the complexity of the proposed procedure and recommend the most appropriate setting.
Where specialist surgical treatment or general anaesthesia is indicated, we work with specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeons, with treatment often available locally in Bowral.
Choosing the Right Approach
There is no single solution for dental anxiety.
For one patient, a little extra time and reassurance may be enough. Another may benefit from nitrous oxide sedation, while selected adult patients may be suitable for oral sedation. More complex circumstances may be better managed in a specialist or hospital setting.
Our approach is to use the simplest and most appropriate level of anxiety management for the individual patient and the treatment being undertaken.
If dental anxiety has made it difficult for you or your child to attend the dentist or complete treatment in the past, please let us know when making your appointment. We can discuss your concerns and the options available before treatment begins
Why Choose Station St Dental?
Truly Holistic Dental Care
Integrated, Multi-Disciplinary Dentistry
To ensure we stay ahead of the curve, our entire team - including our friendly front desk staff - regularly attends professional development courses. We’re committed to learning the latest advancements in dental care and proudly use cutting-edge equipment and technology in our clinic.
A Comfortable, Family-Friendly Environment
Family-Focused Dentistry
It’s not uncommon for families to schedule their appointments together, making it easy and convenient to manage everyone’s oral health in one visit.
Plus, eligible children may access up to $1,132 in dental care over two years through the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) - making quality care more accessible when you need it most.
We Also Accept All Major Health Funds, CDBS & Veteran Affairs
