Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry or "Sleep Dentistry"

The term "Sleep Dentistry" is used to describe the treatment of dental conditions while under general anaesthesia or conscious sedation.  Most people consider the use of general anaesthesia something that only occurs in hospital settings for various surgeries.  That's not the case.

In dentistry, general anaesthesia has been utilized for a very long time now for patients requiring wisdom teeth extractions, periodontal surgeries, and other more invasive procedures.  Conscious sedation can be used for any type of dental treatment, including traditional dental treatments and therapies that would normally require only local anaesthetic, especially if the patient experiences severe anxiety with respect to dental visits.

Anaesthesia and conscious sedation are highly recommended for people who have very strong gag reflexes, require extensive dental work (as the work can often be done in one long appointment), and even children (especially if they are extremely fearful and require a great deal of treatment).

What's the difference between general anaesthetic and conscious sedation?

General anaesthetic (GA) is a state of drug-induced unconsciousness where the loss of consciousness is accompanied by a loss of protective reflexes and muscle control.  The medications that are used to induce this state are varied and is determined by the anaesthesiologist based on the patient's medical history and their treatment needs.

Conscious sedation is not the same as GA.  Conscious sedation is the inducing of the patient, through the use of the appropriate drugs, into a state of deep relaxation, amnesia, pain control (along with local anaesthetic) and very deep sleep.  It is designed to block pain sensations.  Patients can get treated knowing that their comfort and well-being is our utmost priority!

At Dentistry at Vitality Health, our dental anaesthesiologist is available for any patient who requires dental treatment in conjunction with general anaesthetic or conscious sedation.