For people who suffer from dental phobia, visits to the dentist can be a source of anxiety for weeks before a scheduled appointment. IV sedation is one of the most significant advancements in modern dentistry, helping patients feel at ease about treatment – read on to find out more.
We come across patients with varying degrees of dental phobia and will do our best to help, whether you need IV sedation to help you relax or simply need reassuring before you go ahead with you chosen treatment. Dental phobia means something different for every patient, so don’t be embarrassed about your particular worries surrounding the dentist. Here at Cliftonville, our job is to re-define how you see the dentist and make you feel at ease about future visits.
What is IV sedation?
IV sedation is one of the most significant advancements in modern dentistry and has helped patients around the world combat their fear of the dentist. IV sedation allows the patient to remain conscious but pleasantly relaxed whilst treatment takes place – this is so that you can co-operate with the dentist should they need you do open your mouth wider, for example.
IV sedation is administered into the back of the patient’s hand via a tiny plastic tube known as a cannula. The drug used, (Midazolam, an amnesic) is a sedative liquid carefully inserted into the back of the patient’s hand and induces a relaxed, drowsy but comfortable state. As it is an amnesic, you may not have a full recollection of the treatment despite being conscious.
Many patients find that IV sedation helps them go forward and approach the thought of future treatment with less anxiety and more confidence. 1 in 10 people in the UK have some form of dental phobia and 1 in 4 suffer from extreme fear of the dentist. So if you’re nervous about coming forward as someone who associates the dentist with deep feelings of worry and anxiety, consider that it is extremely common across the UK.
Here at Cliftonville, our team are fully qualified and experienced; Dr Amina Peet has carried out over 3000 cases of IV sedation, making her one of the most experienced dentists in the country where sedation is concerned – so you’re in good hands.
If you would like to know more about IV sedation to Cliftonville, please do not hesitate to contact us.