Expert answers
We know how daunting dental treatment can be. Our Dental Phobia certified experts are here to help ease your mind before treatment by answering your questions.
Can I get the work done under sedation?
Hi Simon, Iam a very nervous patient due to a bad extraction when I was 14, basically it involved a filling, temporary filling and a tooth removal all on the same tooth in the same session!! As a result of this I have put of having any work done to my teeth, but now iam getting in a rather lot of pain so need the work doing, do clinics offer treatment under sedation? As my fear is off the work being done and not needles? thanks for your help
Dear Sir ? Madam
Thank you for contacting me. My personal view is that when there has been a loss of confidence as you have had, the best thing to do is have your dental health issues addressed with sedation in the first instance, and then deal with the phobia later. You are one of many people who are in this position.
There are clinics offering treatment under sedation. Often this is administered by the dentist who is doing the treatment. My personal feeling is that although this may help keep costs down, it is not ideal as the dentist cannot possibly be monitoring the sedation 100% and doing the treatment. My advice would be to see a good dentist who works with a experienced and properly qualified anaesthetist who gives the sedation and monitors you appropriately.
Although sedation can be given by mouth (i.e tablets), one can achieve much better control and make treatment a breeze for patients by giving it intra-venously, and in my experience with my anaesthetist this works wonderfully well.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact me again if I can help further. If you are based in the London area I would be happy to see you or feel free to visit our clinic. If you would like to receive our new ebook with information discussing how we can help you overcome your dental phobia please just contact simonnery@mac.com, or visit sndentist.co.uk to download directly.
Dr Simon Nery
Registered Specialist (prosthodontics) with General Dental Council (UK).
BDS,FDSRCS(Eng), M.Sc, MRDRCS(Edin), DipImpDentRCS(Edin).
Part time Lecturer in Restorative Dentsitry at the London Hospital 1998-2010
