Many patients are nervous about visiting the dentist. Whether this is through a bad experience in the past, fear of pain or, like many fears, for no obvious reason, fear of the dentist is the main reason adult patients put off visiting a dental surgery. This only makes things worse because the problem won't go away and will only get worse – potentially leading to painful conditions such as dental abscesses and the need for more invasive treatment.
Modern dental techniques mean that many treatments are practically pain-free, and all treatment at Orpington Dental Care will be carried out in a gentle, caring way. If you are nervous about visiting the dentist, we offer sedation from a qualified medical doctor and anaesthetist.
Andre von Backstrom [MB ChB Dip Sed] is a doctor and the anaesthetist who attends the practice to care for patients requiring sedation. He has been administering intravenous conscious sedation in dentistry for the past 21 years, and will look after you while you have your treatment.
When you are sedated, you will effectively go to sleep for the duration of any treatment you require. You won't feel anything, and you won't remember much about the treatment when you wake up. You'll wake up soon after the treatment is over and will be able to go home straight away – you won't be able to drive, however, so make sure you bring a friend or family member to take you home.
We also provide relative analgesia, sometimes known as laughing gas, which can help patients to relax. The effects will wear off very quickly after treatment.
Sedation can also help if you are visiting the practice for a more complex procedure, or if you have difficulty in keeping your mouth open for extended periods of time.
Our team are happy to talk to you about sedation options, so please talk to your dentist if you think sedation may be helpful to you.
