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Sedation Dentistry

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

If you feel anxiety at the thought of a visit in the dental chair, talk to us about sedation dentistry.

Most forms of sedation used in dentistry allow you to remain conscious but relaxed, helping to ease the tension of undergoing dental procedures.

Methods of Sedation

There are several methods of sedation available:

Nitrous oxide is a common sedation technique. A small mask is fitted over your nose, and you inhale a sweet-smelling gas while the procedure is taking place. Nitrous oxide causes a relaxed feeling during your dental procedures. The effect wears off just minutes after the mask is removed, allowing you to immediately resume your normal activities.
Intravenous, or IV, sedation consists of a sedative administered directly into your bloodstream. IV sedation is good for shorter procedures. Administering the medication directly into your bloodstream means immediate results. You may feel as if you were asleep during your procedure, and you will need a companion to accompany you, as grogginess is normal following IV sedation.
Oral sedation can be used for mild to moderate dental anxiety. You will be given a medication to be taken approximately an hour before your appointment. Oral sedation will leave you feeling very relaxed, and you may not even remember all of the procedure. You will need to be accompanied to your appointment by a friend or family member as oral sedation can take several hours to wear off.

You will be monitored during your appointment to ensure that you are safe during the procedure.

Benefits of Sedation

Sedation dentistry offers several benefits:

It allows you to complete dental work in fewer visits.
It helps alleviate anxiety and leaves you relaxed after your procedure.
It can keep you from remembering the sounds and smells often associated with dental anxiety.

If you are interested in sedation dentistry or have questions or concerns, please contact our clinic for more information. We will be happy to help you decide what’s right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be unconscious during my dental procedure?

Most forms of dental sedation will leave you drowsy but conscious and able to voluntarily move and speak. Dental sedation will put you into a deeply relaxed state. You may find that time passes faster, and you may not even remember parts of the procedure when it is over, but you will remain conscious the entire time.

Should a Parent accompany a child into the treatment room?

We’ve been asked:

Should a parent accompany a child into the treatment room?

Dentists frequently prefer that parents do not accompany children into the treatment room since they want to gain the child’s attention and establish control of the situation.

However, for the first visit, it can be comforting for the child to have a parent come along for the process of getting settled into the chair. Some children do much better with a parent there for support, while others may become unruly because they know they can manipulate their parents. Some parents just can’t relinquish their child to another’s care and may interfere unnecessarily, or they may distract the child with bribes, reprimands and conversation.

Mary Anne does like having parents in the room. But, she does prefer to establish one-to-one relationship with the child (as in asking parents to observe only).

Could you stay out of your child’s line of vision and don’t talk.

If your preschooler finds it comforting to hold your hand the dentist may agree to let you do this after the first 10 minutes

There may be some occasions when if treatment is not completed/not attended we are obliged to report this to other child providers.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr Mary Anne Costelloe BDS Dip.Clin
Dentist

Mary Anne has owned this practice for 25 years after purchasing it from Dr Kerry Hamilton/Dr David Haszard after working for Dentists in New Plymouth for 2 years. She has a Clinical Diploma is Paediatric Dentistry and prides herself providing an environment that is very child and Adult friendly, and wishes her patients to understand the treatments offered to them. Mary Anne has 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren