Approximately 16% of Australian adults experience dental fear. Many would rather avoid visiting the dentist than receive the care they need, putting their oral health at risk. This fear is often linked to past dental experiences, or a fear of needles, drilling, or grinding.

Sleep dentistry offers a way for patients to receive treatment comfortably, without the anxiety that might otherwise prevent them from attending.

How Sleep Dentistry Works

Sleep dentistry uses sedation to help patients feel calm and relaxed during treatment. Depending on the technique used, patients may have little or no memory of the procedure. Sedation levels range from mild (inhalation or oral sedation), to moderate (IV sedation), to deep (general anaesthesia).

For patients with severe dental fear, or those who require long or complex procedures, general anaesthesia may be the most suitable option. Under general anaesthesia, you are fully asleep during the procedure and will have no awareness or memory of the treatment. It is also well suited to longer treatments, as the patient remains completely still throughout.

Some sedation services are claimable under Medicare.

Our clinic is also one of the few dental clinics in the western suburbs of Melbourne to offer in-house general anaesthesia.

Benefits of Sleep Dentistry

The primary benefit is the ability to receive dental treatment without anxiety. Other advantages include:

• No discomfort during the procedure
• Little to no memory of the treatment
• Reduced anxiety about follow-up visits
• Complex procedures can be completed at the dental clinic rather than a hospital
• The dentist can work more efficiently with a still, comfortable patient, allowing multiple procedures to be completed in a single visit

Your Next Step

If dental fear has been preventing you from seeking care, sleep dentistry may help. Contact us at The Point Dental to discuss your options.