Sleep Dentistry An Option For Those With Dental Phobias

Courtesy June Dayton

A trip to the dentist has become more soothing for the anxious patient with the advent of a process known as sleep dentistry.

The term "sleep dentistry" (also known as "sedation dentistry") is a bit of a misnomer in that the patient isn't technically asleep. Instead, the patient is placed into a relaxed state with the use of strong sedatives, allowing the patient to experience the dental procedure as if in a dream. Local anesthetics also are in the mix to make the session pain-free, although the patient will experience the usual discomfort once the anesthetic wears off.

This treatment came about as a way to entice those with a fear of a visit to the dentist to put those fears aside to receive dental treatment that is sometimes a necessity. Some dental procedures can be invasive and painful, too much so for some patients, so the prospect of being able to "sleep" through the procedure helps some patients to overcome their fears.

Of course, a treatment that involves this mix of sedatives and anesthetic is bound to receive some scrutiny from those charged with making sure that the drugs are administered responsibly. The fear among some medical watchdogs is that some dental practices making use of the sleep dentistry method will not have properly trained staff in place to administer the potent cocktail, which could lead to patients overdosing or other problems if the drugs aren't administered properly.

As an example, Australia has announced new guidelines requiring that a nurse or dentist properly trained in the administering of the drugs used in sleep dentistry should be assisting during one of these sessions. These guidelines take effect in July.

So the person with dental phobias that is considering the sleep dentistry method should be sure to ask the right questions of their dentist before diving in. Make sure the individual administering the required dosages is properly trained, and verify that a trained professional will be on hand to monitor your condition while you are sedated.

The sleep dentistry method is one that is meant to help those that refuse to undergo dental treatment. But make sure that this procedure is right for you, and that the dental practice providing the service is one you can trust.