Dealing With Dental Anxiety Through Sedation Dentistry

Dental anxiety is common and can result in sufferers avoiding dental appointments.

This in turn can lead to dental problems requiring more advanced treatment—which is terrible if one fears spending time in the dentist’s chair. Sedation dentistry is a great option for nervous or anxious patients, allowing them to get the treatment they need without the trauma.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, you’re not alone. Visiting the dentist is one of the most reported fears held by adults. Luckily, there are now options to aid in reducing that anxiety, meaning that patients can finally relax at their dental appointments. This results in more frequent dental visits, which leads to better dental health outcomes and less time spent at the dentist. While not all sedation methods will render you unconscious, they will lull you deeply into a feeling of calmness and relaxation.

What Are My Options for Sedation Dentistry?

When it comes to sedation dentistry, there are several options available, including IV sedation, nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas), and methoxyflurane, which is sold under the brand name Penthrox. At Kitchener Street Dental, Penthrox is our sedative of choice for patients who need a little bit of help to deal with their dental anxiety. Penthrox is a sedative agent that does not contain narcotics, so there’s no risk of addiction. Patients can also select the level of sedation that is best for them due to how it is administered.

How Does Penthrox Work?

Because of how quickly it relieves pain, the Penthrox active ingredient, methoxyflurane, is frequently utilized in emergency care. Indeed, relief with Penthrox is immediate, making it a great choice for dentistry procedures. It is generally administered through an inhaler held by the patient, so you are always in control of your dosing.

After roughly six to eight inhalations, you should start to feel calm, relaxed, and mostly pain-free (although no dental procedure can be guaranteed to be completely painless). The effects will last for approximately half an hour after your last inhalation. If you suffer from dental anxiety, Penthrox is a great option to “take the edge off” that anxiety and enable you to access the treatment you need.

Are There Any Side-Effects from Inhaling Penthrox?

One of the top benefits of using Penthrox for sedation dentistry is its lack of opioids. This means that while it will sedate you and induce feelings of relaxation and well-being, it won’t be in any way physically addictive. But that does not mean there are no negative impacts at all. One of the most important things to be aware of is that Penthrox should not be taken with other sedatives.

This means that if you’ve got a sedation dentistry procedure scheduled, please don’t take things into your own hands and self-medicate before your appointment. Additionally, you may experience dizziness, nausea, or a headache after inhaling Penthrox, although these symptoms should resolve quickly and won’t cause long-term discomfort. In case you have any lingering drowsiness or dizziness after your sedation dentistry session, it is recommended that you have a friend or family member drive you home.

Am I A Good Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

Do you suffer from dental anxiety? Does it hinder your ability to visit the dentist, even when you know you have a tooth problem? Do you hate the thought of being in the dentist chair? If this sounds like you, then yes, you’re an excellent candidate for sedation dentistry. However, Penthrox should not be used by patients with kidney impairment, so if you suffer from any renal issues, please let us know ahead of time.

How Can We Help?

By providing Penthrox for sedation dentistry at Kitchener Street Dental, we hope to enable anxious patients to access dental care without fear, stress, or trauma. We believe that everyone should be able to get the treatment they need, and we hope that by including sedation dentistry in our package of services, we’ll see more people obtaining much-needed dental care.

To learn more about sedation dentistry at Kitchener Street Dental, please have a look here.

To book an appointment, please call (07) 3184 8462 or use our online booking portal.