If you don’t want to be awake at the dentist, you can choose to have intravenous sedation for your dental treatment

Sleep dentistry provides very nervous patients with a comfortable way of receiving the dental care they need.

Two types of sleep dentistry are available at Lovely Dental Care:

What Is Sleep Dentistry?

“Sleep dentistry” refers to several types of dental sedation. These include

While these are all very different forms of dental sedation, they all have one thing in common: they reduce the patient’s awareness of dental procedures that they might otherwise feel anxious about.

Intravenous Sedation

Intravenous sedation can help a patient feel more relaxed in the dental chair. The sedation is administered by a specialist who is trained in administering anaesthetic medications. 

Shortly after the sedation is administered, the patient becomes deeply sedated and may even fall asleep. The patient usually wakes with no memory of the procedure.

Which Patients May Benefit From Intravenous Sedation Dentistry?

  • Very nervous, anxious adults
  • Very nervous children who require multiple fillings and/or removal of teeth
  • Adults requiring extensive or multiple dental treatments. IV sedation can help make a long dental procedure more comfortable
  • Patients who wish to have all their dental treatment done in a single visit
  • Patients with strong gag reflexes
  • Patients with physical or intellectual impairment.

A patient who receives IV sedation must be accompanied home by a responsible adult. The effects of intravenous sedation may last for hours, and a restful day at home is recommended.

We offer dental services under intravenous sedation in our rooms on Bellerine Street, Geelong. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your options with Dr Teo.

General Anaesthetic

Some people prefer to have their dental treatment performed under a full general anaesthetic. This is performed in our Surgery rooms for patients who prefer to be unconscious for dental care. Assessment for patient suitability will be made if general anaesthetic is your preferred option.

Which Type of Sleep Dentistry Is Best?

The type of sleep dentistry that may be recommended depends on many factors, including the patient’s health history, their current medications, the degree of dental anxiety that they experience, as well as the type and extent of dental procedures required.

Dr Teo will thoroughly assess your dental condition and medical history and would be pleased to discuss your options and make recommendations that are most appropriate for your individual needs.

Every form of sedation carries risks. These will be explained to you so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment.

There are also risks associated with avoiding dental treatment because of anxiety, and it is important that patients are able to receive their dental care comfortably, thoroughly, and in good timing.

Sleep Dentistry at Lovely Dental Care

We have two priorities:

1. To ensure every patient receives the dental care that they need
2. To put every person at ease during every dental appointment.

If dental anxiety is preventing you from accessing the treatment that you require, Dr Teo would be pleased to assist. She has many years of experience working with anxious patients and understands that you are likely to have many questions about sleep dentistry.

It’s important that you know the benefits, risks and estimates before proceeding with treatment under sedation. A thorough assessment of your mouth will be conducted before any sleep dentistry services can be scheduled.

Our Ultimate Aim for Nervous Patients

Dr Teo believes that most patients, even those who are profoundly anxious about dental treatment, will eventually be able to attend their dental appointments without needing regular sedation.

This can happen when:

  • The individual feels comfortable and empowered during appointments,
  • The dental team is aware of, respectful of and responsive to each individual’s needs and fears
  • The dental team demonstrates that they can be trusted to be gentle, caring and consistently able to deliver quality treatment.

We invite you to come and meet Dr Teo and discover for yourself her brand of gentle and respectful dental care. Please feel free to call the practice to make a consultation appointment.

You can also read more about how we take care of nervous patients.