Nervous Patients
Many patients may feel uneasy about receiving dental treatment, but some individuals may experience dental phobia, which can be a significant source of anxiety. To help alleviate this fear, sedation can be used during the dental procedure. Sedation is administered easily and safely in the dental practice, and it allows patients to undergo treatment without worrying. The sedative medication is given through a small line in the back of the hand or arm, inducing a state of relaxation and cooperation without inducing a general anaesthetic-induced sleep. Even people with complex medical histories can typically use intra-venous sedation without difficulty. The sedative medication also has an amnesic effect, which means that patients may not remember the procedure or how long it took.
If patients are undergoing complex dental treatments, such as multiple dental implants or surgery, sedation may be administered. While patients may not experience dental phobia, they may still feel anxious about the length of time spent in the dental chair. Before the procedure, all aspects of sedation will be discussed with the patient, and they will need to be accompanied to and from the practice. It is important to note that the sedative medication may take some time to fully leave the patient’s system, and therefore, we recommend refraining from driving or operating machinery for 48 hours following the procedure.