Nitrous oxide sedation is also known as laughing gas or happy gas. It is commonly prescribed to children and adults alike in order to reduce their anxiety of dental treatment. It is safe and easy to prescribe, simply by breathing in the gas through the nasal attachment. 

It is a form of conscious sedation, where the patient is still awake but feel much calmer. In addition, it is relatively inexpensive and therefore a lot of patients commonly use it for all treatment.

IV sedation is also known as sleep dentistry or twilight dentistry. Patients’ are induced into a deep sleep-like sedation and the treatment is carried out in this state. After the sedation, patients do not remember what happened or feel any pain during or after the procedure. It is unlike a general anaesthesia procedure where patients are placed in a hospital setting and kept overnight. 

Rather this is undertaken within the dental practice, however, patients need to bring in a partner/ friend to take them home since they are not allowed to drive themselves. It is the ideal procedure for patients undergoing any form of minor oral surgery or who have high dental anxiety. Are you an anxious dental patient? You're not alone! 

Dental anxiety is common, but it can be a problem if it stops you from visiting the dentist and looking after your oral health. So, to help you better understand what causes dental anxiety and how you can manage it, here's a rundown of the most frequently asked questions we receive.

It's a fear of visiting the dentist.

You might feel nervous or uneasy about attending your appointment, or it could be so disabling that you can't even think about dental work without experiencing intense panic.

Dental anxiety can affect anyone, even people who've never had a problem visiting the dentist before! 

It affects people of all ages, and there's absolutely no reason to be embarrassed about it.

It's really common. In fact, over 50 per cent of Australians have put off dental work at some point because they're anxious about it. In other words, we're used to working with anxious dental patients and putting your mind at ease.

Honestly, there's no "one" cause. 

It can be a fear of: 

Most often, dental anxiety occurs when someone has a traumatic procedure that puts them off visiting again.

It manifests in a few ways, but here are the most common signs:

We'll talk you through the procedure if this helps, and we'll go over any concerns you have. Your wellbeing is our top priority, and we'll do what we can to ease your dental anxiety.

Anxious dental patients might postpone essential treatment or fail to schedule checkups. This can result in tooth decay and other oral problems that require more extensive treatment because they've been left unchecked for so long. 

In other words, regular dental appointments and assessments like x-rays can reduce the need for invasive procedures in the long run!

First, talk to us. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable and ready for your appointment. 

Distract yourself with a book or some music in the waiting room, and consider meditating or practicing mindfulness techniques before your visit. 

Don't let dental anxiety damage your oral health – contact us to discuss any concerns you have and book an appointment today.

Our oral health professionals adjust to each patient’s requests and anxieties in order to make the experience as comfortable and tranquil as possible. In addition to our outstanding patient service, we also offer nitrous oxide sedation and IV sedation.