Some of our older patients might recall having ‘gas’ at the dentist when they were children. This gas rendered the patient unconscious and allowed the dentist to carry out procedures. For the patient, this meant that there could be no fear regarding what was happening as they were ‘asleep’. The after effects could be quite unpleasant though. Patients often found themselves very drowsy for a while, waking up confused and with a bad taste in the mouth which was not a nice experience. Despite this, many nervous dental patients would still happily have this sedation when receiving treatment today.
Unfortunately for these people, full sedation is not now routinely offered in dental practices for safety reasons following some tragic outcomes in the past., As this method is not now widely available, let us look at the options available to patients of Blake Dental.
Very few people genuinely enjoy going to the dentist, often even for a check up. Most people still go though, knowing that it is to their benefit and will help them to avoid tooth decay and gum disease etc. Some people are more anxious about this than others but most patients will simply take a few deep breaths and hope for things to be over as soon as possible.
We always do our best to make things as stress free as possible for patients who attend our practice, whether for a check up or for a more invasive treatment. Our dentists are trained to treat nervous patients and you can be assured that we will do what we can to enable you to stay as relaxed as possible. If you have any specific issues that concern you; for example, a fear of the needle used for local anaesthetics, please let the dentist know. They will be able to explain what is happening which often helps to calm the nerves a little.
Some people do find that additional help enables them to attend our Witham dental surgery in a more relaxed frame of mind, Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga or even walking in the countryside can all help. Especially for those whose dental anxiety is relatively mild, these may just be sufficient to make things manageable for you.
This is obviously not the case for everyone, though it is certainly worth experimenting with the above. For those whose anxiety levels are higher though, we have two options available just for you.
This is an ideal solution for patients whose anxiety levels are significant but not too bad, yet bad enough to cause them some distress. It provides a mild sedative in the form of a tablet which will be given to you to take. Our dentist will recommend the best time to take it for maximum effect, based on the time of your scheduled appointment. Although not as powerful as conscious sedation, it is still very effective and we do recommend that you bring a responsible adult with you to make sure that you get home safely as the effects may last a little beyond your treatment..
In order to provide conscious dental sedation, we will bring in a qualified anaesthetist to provide the therapy. This offers a powerful sedative that will enable you to be completely relaxed throughout the procedure while still being fully awake. This is important as the dentist may need to communicate with you during the procedure. With conscious sedation it is essential that you bring someone with you to get home safely. Under no circumstances should you drive and, especially if you work with machinery etc, it is strongly recommended that you take time from work to allow the sedative to exit your system.
Both of these methods of sedation are kinder than the old ‘gas’ style ones. They also allow the patient to remain conscious, which, as mentioned before, is essential in case the dentist needs to ask you questions while the treatment is being carried out. Seeing a dentist and receiving appropriate treatment helps you to have strong teeth and a healthy mouth. Missing appointments through anxiety will almost certainly negatively affect this.
If you suffer from dental phobia and are interested in finding out more about these sedation options please do talk to our local team about it. You can do this by calling Blake Dental today on 01376 501688. We look forward to helping you receive your dental care in as relaxed a manner as we possibly can.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
