Eliminate dental fear with sleep dentistry
Sleep dentistry is an effective way to overcome dental anxiety
Even the bravest among us can experience fear or anxiety about dental work.
It’s not uncommon that anxiety — or in extreme cases, dental phobia – leads to delayed treatment or skipping dental work altogether.
If this sounds like you, sleep dentistry is a game changer. Stay in control of your oral health and discuss sleep dentistry with our highly specialised dental fear experts.
What is sleep dentistry?
Sleep dentistry is a revolutionary dentistry practise for many patients. When dental anxiety or dental phobia kicks in, it can feel almost impossible to get the treatment you need. But, in the long term, delaying dental work can lead to more complicated and painful oral health issues.
Sleep dentistry enables your dental procedure to occur while you sleep. This helps people get through the experience in a calm and relaxed state. There are different levels of sedation, but the aim is for you to receive your treatment, minus the fear and anxiety.
When should I consider sleep dentistry?
If you’ve been avoiding a dental procedure because you’re fearful of dental work, sleep dentistry is an appealing option. Some of the main reasons patient’s consider sleep dentistry include:
- Dental phobia, anxiety or panic
- Fear of needles or drills
- Negative experience at the dentist previously
- Multiple procedures that require a lengthy appointment
- Lowered pain threshold
- Strong gag reflex
Young children who require extensive treatments or are scared of dentists may be suitable for sleep dentistry.
At The Point Dental, we are experts in dental fear and strategies to manage it. By discussing your fear with us, you can learn about individual triggers of anxiety and we can tailor treatments for you.
How will I be sedated?
There are different types of sedation that range from light to deep, as well as paediatric. Your dentist will discuss with you whether you’d prefer IV sedation or if you’d like to remain conscious.
In many instances, a general anaesthetic is preferable because:
- You will not feel, hear, or remember anything
- Your airway is fully protected
- It can be carried out safely for a long duration allowing us to perform multiple procedures in one session
- It is only performed by highly-trained specialist anaesthetists
It’s worth noting that some pre-existing medical conditions or medications may affect the type of sedation you can have. Advice regarding sedation is not ‘one size fits all’ and each patient needs a personal consultation and assessment.
There are other options to help people manage dental anxiety or phobia that don’t require sedation, such as distraction techniques like headphones with music and an eye mask.
Will I be treated at the dentist or in a hospital?
A major advantage of sleep dentistry at The Point Dental is that we have an in-house general anaesthetic facility. This means you can be treated in our state-of-the art clinic instead of a hospital. And a significant part of the fee is also claimable via Medicare.
Going under a general aesthetic is still a big decision for some people. Our patients feel confident because we have an on-site team of specialist anaesthetists and registered anaesthetic nurses who take exceptional care of you throughout the procedure.
The range of treatments we offer includes:
- Dental implants
- Wisdom teeth extractions
- Root canal treatment
- Cosmetic veneers
- White Fillings
- Dental crowns
- Full mouth rehabilitation
No matter which one you need, our sleep dentistry experts are able to treat you effectively while you are fully asleep.
If you routinely miss dental appointments or have a particularly lengthy or painful procedure coming up, you may wish to discuss sleep dentistry with our dentists. Sleep dentistry has excellent results and can prevent you from sacrificing your dental health.
Whether you’re based in Melbourne or Point Cook, The Point Dental has unique expertise in sleep dentistry and we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us today to arrange a consultation and learn more about sleep dentistry treatment.
