Sleep Dentistry
If dental anxiety and fear have prevented you from taking care of your teeth, don’t panic — there are solutions. Sleep dentistry can help you make it through dental appointments with minimal discomfort, stress, and anxiety — so you can maintain your oral health without worry.
Our team here at Elevate Dental are trained and licensed providers of sleep dentistry tools that can help you through any dental procedure. So, if your dental anxiety is preventing you from regular dental visits, we’re here to help. Whether you require a calming medication or nitrous oxide, we will see to it that your treatment is safe and effective.
30 Years
Experience
+8000
Happy Patients
Sleep Dentistry Melbourne
Importance of Dental Visits
The main reason we use sleep dentistry is to help patients relax. When patients are relaxed during a dental exam or treatment, it makes it easier for the dentist to work, which shortens the appointment time. And of course, it makes the appointment much less stressful for the patient, allowing them to maintain regular dental visits so future problems are avoided.
As with all dental problems, we at Elevate Dental feel that prevention is best for the patient. And the cornerstone of prevention is regular dental checkups so that small problems are identified and treated before they become big problems. But when left untreated, some dental problems like decay and infection can spread and lead to:
- Tooth decay and cavities
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss and the need for implants or dentures
- Root canal treatment
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Cognitive decline
If your dental anxiety is preventing you from regular dental visits, we can help. Whether you require a calming medication or nitrous oxide, we will see to it that your treatment is safe and effective.
Patient Success Stories
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Can you help with dental anxiety?
Absolutely! We’re not just dentists – we’re your partners in ensuring a stress-free, comfortable dental experience. We understand that dental anxiety can hold you back, but we’ve got your back. Elevate Dental is your haven for a soothing journey. Dive into your favorite Netflix shows, tune out the world with noise-cancelling headphones, and squeeze away stress with our calming stress balls. Feeling extra nervous? Our happy gas option is here to whisk your worries away.
But that’s not all. Our remarkable team is the backbone of your reassuring visit. With their warm support and expertise, you’ll feel like you’re among friends. Your dental health and peace of mind matter to us, and we’re here to make your dental visit an experience you’ll look forward to. Click ‘Book My Appointment’ now and take the first step towards a confident, anxiety-free smile.
- Netflix
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Stress balls
- Happy gas
- A supportive team
Benefits of Sleep Dentistry with Nitrous Oxide
Dentists have been using nitrous oxide to help their patients relax for over 100 years. It’s one of the lightest sedatives, which doesn’t negate how extremely effective it is. Here are a few of the primary reasons why nitrous oxide is an ideal sedative for sleep dentistry:
- Helps patients overcome their fear of the dentist or dental tools.
- Provides analgesia (the inability to feel pain).
- Impressive safety record.
- Extremely effective for patients with dental anxiety and phobia.
- Dosage can be adjusted to the patient’s needs.
- Quick onset and equally fast recovery.
- No after effects (and limited side effects) for most patients.
Am I a candidate for Sleep Dentistry?
Anyone who experiences extreme fear of the dentist or dental anxiety is a candidate for sleep dentistry with nitrous oxide. The sedative works well for adults and can also calm apprehensive children — helping both the patient and dentist. The treatments that use sleep dentistry most often include:
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth extraction
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Jaw pain
- Infection of tooth or gums
- Periodontal treatment
- Highly sensitive gag reflex
Nitrous oxide can be used for dental exams and cleaning if needed. Since the side effects are minimal and it has a fast recovery time, some patients ask for this service for their regular dental appointments. Elevate Dental always prioritises your dental health and wellbeing, so if it helps you, we’re more than happy to administer nitrous oxide safely and effectively for your peace of mind.
If you think that sleep dentistry is right for you, be sure to talk to our team here at Elevate Dental. A thorough examination and evaluation — during which we’ll discuss your health history — will help us to serve you and determine how to proceed. Elevate Dental’s professional dentists are certified to work with nitrous oxide, so we are your go-to dental clinic for sleep dentistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our trusted dentists are here to help you with your individual needs. Explore our FAQs below or contact us if you have a specific question.
What is sleep dentistry?
Sleep dentistry is a service that allows you to relax with comfort during a dental treatment so the dentist can work quickly and efficiently. While some dentists may use general anaesthesia to put a patient completely asleep, our main method is nitrous oxide as it is well tolerated by everyone, even children.
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas or happy gas. It is a colourless gas that you comfortably breathe in through a small tube while relaxing in the dental chair. Some patients say it smells like fresh air, while some feel it has a pleasantly sweet odour. It is considered to be one of the safest methods of sedation, and the amount given is adjusted for each individual, so you get only what you need. And the best part is that you can go from an alert state to a very drowsy and relaxed state in minutes, and then come right out of it once your treatment is over.
While it may be considered a mild sedative, nitrous oxide works well to suppress brain signals that experience pain. Along with pain suppression, patients often enjoy a feeling of euphoria, which is why it has the nickname of laughing gas. These qualities make it a very effective method of sleep dentistry.
Is sleep dentistry safe?
Nitrous oxide is one of the safest forms of sleep dentistry. It is proven to be safe for adults and children and can be used as often as you visit the dentist. You can even drive home within minutes after your dental procedure as the effects quickly wear off. But there are some who should not use it, such as:
- People who have had eye surgery
- Pregnant women
- Anyone with nitrous oxide allergies
- Those who were addicted to nitrous oxide in the past
If you would like to use sleep dentistry, be sure to talk to our team here at Elevate Dental. A thorough examination and evaluation, along with your complete health history will help us to better serve you. And we are certified and trained to work with nitrous oxide, so your dentist can ensure it is a safe option for you.
Is sleep dentistry safe for children?
Yes – sleep dentistry, particularly the use of nitrous oxide (also known as laughing or happy gas), is safe and effective for children. Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that has been used in paediatric dentistry for many years because of its safety, reliability, and because it wears off very soon after the procedure.
Sleep dentistry can be very beneficial for children, particularly those who experience dental anxiety or struggle when they visit the dentist. At Elevate Dental, our team of compassionate dentists have multiple years’ experience working with children, and our dentist will ensure that any procedure with us is a comforting experience for your child.
Our qualified dentists are trained to monitor the nitrous oxide dosage carefully to make sure it is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, and personal circumstances. If you have any questions about sleep dentistry for children, please give us a call and we will be happy to speak with you further and provide all the information you need.
How should I prepare for my appointment?
During the lead up to your sleep dentistry procedure, you won’t have to do much preparation. All you’ll have to do is answer our questions honestly so that we can ensure you have a safe and smooth sleep dentistry experience with us.
What dental procedures can be done under sleep dentistry?
Sleep dentistry is extremely versatile; it can be used for a variety of dental procedures. It’s applicable for anyone who experiences dental anxiety or fear of dental procedures. Sleep dentistry is safe for adults and children, and it can be used for anything from a deep clean, to extractions or root canal. While most of our patients don’t require nitrous oxide, sleep dentistry is used most frequently for the below treatments:
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Tooth extraction
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth or gum infections
- Jaw pain
- People with sensitive gag reflex
- Periodontal treatment
How long do the effects of sleep dentistry last?
One of the major benefits of using nitrous oxide for sleep dentistry is the short-lived effects and the speed in which it wears off. Minutes after the administration of nitrous oxide, and almost immediately after your dental procedure, you will return to a normal state of alertness, and you won’t be able to feel the effects.
Generally, patients can drive home from the clinic and immediately after sleep dentistry and resume with their daily activities and responsibilities. However, our dentists will ensure to check in with you regarding how you are feeling and provide personalised advice based on your specific situation. If you are ever unsure about how you’re feeling, it’s always best to be cautious and seek advice from one of our professional dentists.
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