A: Sleep Dentistry begins before any dental treatment is commenced and you will awake when it is all over with no recollection of anything. There is no pain or discomfort.
A: You are in a very deeply relaxed state from which you are still responsive. It is commonly referred to as Twilight Sedation or Twilight Sleep. When you fully wake up, you have NO recollection of the entire procedure.
A: Yes, the anaesthetist is sitting at your side the entire time. You will be fully monitored with all the latest safety equipment and he uses a sophisticated infusion driver, giving you controlled amounts of medication so you’ll wake faster. He is constantly adjusting and maintaining your sedation and monitoring your pulse, blood pressure, carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, ECG and your depth of sedation. You are never alone.
A: Depending on your procedure you may still get Local Anaesthesia but ONLY when you are asleep. Local aesthetic injections are still important to make sure that you have no pain. The big difference however is that you won’t feel or be aware of any of the needles – Sleep Dentistry begins first.
A: Yes. Thousands of people undergo sedation every day for a wide variety of uncomfortable procedures such as endoscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy and dentistry. Very small doses are used in sleep dentistry. The safety of sedation is very well documented in numbers of studies as well as in every day clinical use. When administered and supervised by an experienced Specialist Anaesthetist, sedation is both safe and highly effective. Australia is one of the safest places in the world to have an anaesthetic.
A: Sleep Dentistry can be used for all types of dental procedures including cleaning, fillings, root canal therapy, crowns, extractions and implants. Multiple procedures, complex treatment and even surgery can be done in the one session because you will be relaxed, comfortable and pain free.
A: No. You must arrange for someone to drive you home after the session. You should not drive or operate any tools or machinery for the rest of the day.
A: In addition to arranging for someone to drive you home, you should not eat any food for 6 hours or drink fluids for 6 hours prior to your appointment. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. A full information sheet is available to every patient at the initial examination and consultation visit.
A: Yes, the Anaesthetist will have a consultation with you before the session to explain the procedure in detail and to answer any questions. We will provide you with his phone number if you or your own doctor wishes to speak with him before your appointment. He is very approachable and will be happy to discuss any issues with you and will answer any questions.
A: The main reason people avoid needed dental work is anxiety and fear. Most people are unaware of Sleep Dentistry. They are pleasantly surprised to find that their dental visit can actually be calm and enjoyable once they have experienced Sleep Dentistry.
A: There are many reasons why people today are opting to have Sleep Dentistry – not just out of fear or anxiety. Many people want sedation simply to have the time fly by quickly, alleviate the boredom and tedium of long sessions, or are simply too busy to schedule multiple visits – they’d prefer to get more done in one session comfortably!
A: Only for the anaesthetic side of the procedure and the Anaesthetist will explain the Medicare rebate to you.
Patients consistently find their dental procedures to be pleasant and enjoyable while having Sleep Dentistry.
Don’t let fear or anxiety prevent you from seeking proper dental treatment. It’s important to maintain good dental health – your teeth must last a lifetime!