What's it like having twilight dental sedation?

How our Brisbane dentists help you overcome dental nervousness

If you’re nervous about visiting the dentist (a condition known as dental anxiety), our friendly dental team can now offer you a solution. 

Twilight sedation (or sleep dentistry) can be one way to help you overcome your feelings of fear, anxiety or nervousness.

In partnership with our preferred GP – located right here in the Wickham Terrace Dental building – we offer you safe, medically administered IV sedation so that you can get the dental treatment you require. 

In this news post we’ll take a look at twilight sedation, see how it differs from general anaesthetic, and investigate how it can help you relax and enjoy your time with the Wickham Terrace Dental team.

What’s the difference between general anaesthetic and twilight sedation?

The main contrast between general and twilight anaesthesia is the level of consciousness you’ll experience.

That’s because – unlike general anaesthesia which renders you completely unconscious – with twilight sedation you remain in control of your responses and reflexes. This means you’ll be able to respond to your dentist’s requests, even though you won’t remember doing so.

Unlike with general anaesthesia, you won’t need a breathing tube with twilight sedation. The side effects of twilight anaesthesia are generally less intense than with general anaesthesia too.

Compared to traditional anaesthetic, with the more moderate twilight sedation you should have a quicker recovery time, and less likelihood of experiencing side effects or complications. 

Are there any disadvantages with twilight dental sedation?

Something you might not have considered is that, if you undergo twilight sedation every time you need dental treatment, you’ll never get to know that your appointment actually turned out not to be uncomfortable or threatening at all.

And we’re pretty confident that once you experience the way our caring, gentle dentists and team look after you, any anxiety that you used to feel will become a thing of the past!

Because you’re having a needle (or cannula), it’s possible you might have some small localised swelling in the area where the needle entered.

Of course, you won’t immediately recover from having had IV administered drugs as soon as you finish your dental treatment. For this reason, you will need to arrange to have a responsible adult take you home after your appointment.

Lastly, cost is another disadvantage of having IV sedation. Because we ensure your safety by having a GP supervise you throughout the procedure, there is an extra cost involved over and above your dental treatment.

Your twilight sedation recovery checklist

IV sedation is a serious medical procedure, which will require you to take some specific precautions for your health and wellbeing. 

After your appointment with us, make sure you:

• Have a responsible adult take you home, and remain with you until you’re fully alert.
• Take the remainder of the day off to rest and recover.
• Don’t drive for the rest of the day, or try to perform any hazardous or strenuous activities.
• If you’re hungry after your procedure, don’t eat a big meal but instead try and stick to light snack such as toast and something to drink.
• If you feel nauseous, lie down for a while or drink some flat ginger ale or orange juice.
• Refrain from drinking alcohol or taking medication for the rest of the day, unless your dentist has first approved this.
• Remember to take all medications as directed by your dentist.
• If you experience any unusual problems, call Wickham Terrace Dental for advice.

Ask us about twilight sedation for your dental treatment

If you’re nervous about your dental appointment, or you’ve had a bad experience in the past, the friendly Wickham Terrace Dental team will do all we can to ensure your visit is comfortable and even enjoyable.

To find out whether twilight sedation is right for you, call the Wickham Terrace Dental team today on 3831 3031 or get in touch online.