We offer different levels of sedation to achieve a comfortable state during treatment. Our facilities and Specialist Anaesthetists allow these sedation techniques to be used safely and conveniently in our practice at Everton Park on the north-side of Brisbane.
Sedation Dentistry
There are several techniques we use to help our patients achieve the most comfortable dental treatment.
- Light sedation through inhalation sedation
- Light sedation through oral sedation
- Advanced sedation (also known as Twilight Sedation or Sleep Dentistry) – through IV sedation
Methods of IV Sedation
Sleep dentistry is the most advanced form of dental sedation outside of the hospital allowing treatment to be conducted in the best environment to meet your needs. It uses a combination of sedative and pain relieving drugs given intravenously to create a dream-like state of deep, calming relaxation for the entire duration of your dental procedure.
When your appointment is complete, you will have little or no memory of the procedure and feel like no time has passed at all. You may even feel like you have had a deep and satisfying sleep. No pain, no discomfort, and no fear, you can go home with a sense of well-being and the satisfaction of having attended to your dental health.
A qualified specialist anaesthetist stays by your side for the entire procedure to ensure your safety and comfort, and you are afforded state of the art safety and monitoring equipment.
Whether you have had a bad dental experience in the past, or dread going to the dentist for any reason, have difficulty keeping your mouth open, have a sensitive gag reflex, need lengthy or extensive treatment, require a surgical procedure such as wisdom teeth removal or implant placement, or are just short on time, sleep dentistry is a great solution.
Why do people choose Sleep Dentistry?
Fear/anxiety:
One of the most common reasons people avoid going to the dentist is fear or anxiety. Some may have heard frightening stories or previously had negative experiences. It could have been a single episode, that leads to a lifetime of avoidance and fear. That fear is very difficult to overcome, and is often amplified by many years of avoiding the dentist knowing that your oral health is declining. If you would rather not know what is happening during your treatment, even if you have one of our friendly dentists who could offer pain-free treatment using local anaesthetic, then sleep dentistry could be an excellent option for you.
Hypersensitive gag reflex
Some people elect to have sedation dentistry because they have an exaggerated gag reflex which makes regular dental treatment more difficult. Our dentists are experienced with patients who have severe gag reflexes and tailor treatment to accomodate this but understand that some people may prefer to chooose sedation as a stress free approach to treatment.
Efficiency
Other patients are not necessarily afraid, but have more extensive treatment needs. Under a regular dental setting, numerous appointments may be needed to complete their treatment. Due to the busy lifestyles of so many of us these days, organising multiple appointments could mean treatment takes a long time to complete. With sedation, treatment can usually be completed in one visit, minimising the time patients needs to take out of their busy lives
Surgical procedures
Sleep dentistry is also great for surgical procedures such as Wisdom Teeth Removal or Implant Placement which can be a little more involved than other routine treatments.
Will I be asleep during IV Sedation?
During sedation, conveniently carried out in the comfort of our practice, you will be in a relaxed state where you can sleep through the procedure. Unlike General Anaesthetic where you may feel groggy post treatment, IV sedation has minimal recovery time and is far safer as your body maintains full control of its own breathing during the procedure.
What does it cost?
The cost depends on the type of sedation required and the length of the appointment needed to carry out the treatment. At your initial examination appointment, your Dentist will complete a treatment plan and provide a full estimate of costs.
Medicare will contribute towards the anaesthetist’s fee only. While Medicare does not cover dental treatment in Australia, you can still claim a rebate through your private health insurance.
What do I need to do?
The first step is to book an initial examination with one of our caring Dentists for a consultation to assess your needs and dental health. During this visit our dentist will discuss your treatment needs and outcomes as well as answer any of your questions in a non-confrontational setting. With your help, we will choose which sedation method will work best for you as well as providing you with a complete treatment plan and estimate of fees.
To discuss how the skilled team at Jorgensen Mutzelburg Dental can help ease your Dental worries and take care of your smile, call us on 3354 1077 to arrange an appointment.