Relaxation & Sleep Dentistry

Nervous? You’re not alone! We know a fear or anxiety around dentistry is all too common and as a result we provide multiple options for overcoming this.

At a base level we hope to reduce your anxiety by listening to your concerns. Often the fear of the unknown is overwhelming and by listening to your worries we are able to demystify many of the things that are a source of concern. Oftentimes simple procedures can be achieved with local anaesthetic, a gentle technique and reassurance from our experienced staff.

Speaking of local anaesthetic, we will always make sure that you are as numb as you need to be! We’ve all heard the horror stories from years gone by – please be assured that we will not start any treatment until you and we are sure that you are appropriately anaesthetised and we’ll continue to ensure that this remains the case throughout your treatment. In most cases we also use a numbing gel prior to the local anaesthetic to make everything as comfortable as possible.

Having said all of that, yes, we have ways of making you far less aware of what’s going on! These are:

This is the traditional “laughing” or “happy” gas. It is incredibly safe and can be used for most ages, generally 5 and up at our clinic. The nitrous oxide gas is a type of inhalational anaesthetic – a rubber nose piece will deliver a mixture of oxygen and happy gas that you will breath in through your nose. The effect is to deliver a sense of calm and to reduce your awareness of the procedure whilst still being awake and conscious. At the end of the procedure when the gas is switched off the effects are immediately gone – there is no grogginess and you can even drive home after your appointment.

Commonly referred to as the “Green Whistle”, Pentrox is another inhalational anaesthetic – you may have seen it on ambulance tv shows or after an injury at the footy. It is held by you in your hand and you are able to take breaths from the whistle throughout your treatment to deliver a sense of calm. You will need someone to accompany you home after the use of Penthrox.

Sedation dentistry may be considered for more comprehensive treatments and requires the attendance of an anaesthetist. It is sometimes referred to as a twilight sedation – you are not unconscious like during a hospital general anaesthetic – but you will not at all be aware of what is going on and afterwards it will feel as though you have been asleep. It is carried out in our clinic – the anaesthetist will make assessments in the lead up to determine your suitability and will be present in the room throughout your procedure. You must have an accompanying person to take you home after the appointment.

We are able to facilitate treatment under general anaesthetic in our local area. This is more commonly used for surgical procedures such as wisdom teeth removal and will generally be carried out at Kilmore District Hospital, avoiding the need for travel.

Your First Visit

Checks, Cleans & Prevention

Children’s Dentistry

Dentures

Orthodontics

Dental Implants

Emergency Treatment

Cosmetic Dentistry

Invisalign

Whitening

Wisdom Teeth

Crowns & Veneers

Digital Dentistry

Root Canal Treatment

Snoring, Grinding & Sleep Apnoea