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Pain Free Dentistry
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Are you afraid to go to the dentist? Imagine being able to accomplish all your dental
care in as little as one visit. Following our pain free dentistry treatments,
you will be able to
smile with confidence and chew your food without pain.
We know that undertaking major dental surgery can be nerve-racking for many people. People
of all ages and backgrounds are affected by dental anxiety and with pain free
dentistry we are here to help you overcome your fear.
INHALATION SEDATION – NITROUS OXIDE
This is also known as ’happy gas’. You breathe it in through a mask
that is placed over your nose. People experience different feelings while breathing
nitrous oxide. You'll be able to understand what we are saying throughout the treatment,
but the sedation should reduce your anxiety. When your treatment is finished, the
sedation will wear off after a few deep breaths and the gases will leave your body
in about 20 minutes.
INHALATION SEDATION – PENTHROX™
The Penthrox™ inhaler is a hand held device used both for pain free dentistry
and to relieve anxiety. Penthrox™ has been used for over 20 years on over
2 million patients in Australia where it is used by the ambulance service, Defence
Forces and in hospitals. It is suitable for pain free dentistry procedures up to
one hour in duration. The Penthrox™ has a very rapid onset of action – only
6–8 breaths are required. You can then control your own level of relief by inhaling
intermittently during treatment. Following administration of Penthrox™ you
will need someone to collect you and escort you home. You must not drive a vehicle,
operate hazardous machinery, or conduct responsible business matters for 24 hours.
ORAL MEDICINES
We can prescribe you a medicine (e.g. Valium) to take an hour or two before your
appointment, to reduce your anxiety. The pills must be taken exactly as directed
and will have sedative effects so you mustn‘t drink alcohol while taking the
pills. You will need someone to accompany you to and from your appointment. You
must not drive a vehicle, operate hazardous machinery, or conduct responsible business
matters for 24 hours.
SEDATION DENTISTRY
Another option in pain free dentistry offered at our clinic is
intravenous sedation. This makes treatments a breeze for our patients who suffer
from anxiety and dental phobia, severe gag reflex, and those requiring extensive,
invasive or potentially uncomfortable procedures. This pain free dentistry
technique involves the injection of small amounts of medication into a vein in the
arm. When it takes effect you will slowly relax and drift off into a dream-like
state. You are continuously monitored throughout the procedure by a specialised
doctor. You will be unaware and unconcerned about any noises, tastes, smells or
discomfort during the procedure. It will seem as though you have been asleep for
most of the treatment. Note that you have merely been sedated and not unconscious
in the way you would be under general anaesthesia, and are able to breathe on your
own. On completion of the treatment, you will wake up gradually. Complex treatments
that often require multiple appointments can often be done in as little as one or two! You will need
someone to collect you and escort you home. You must not drive a vehicle, operate
hazardous machinery, or conduct responsible business matters for 24 hours.
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THE WAND PLUS: COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ANAESTETIC DELIVERY SYSTEM
At the clinic we have the Wand Plus, a computer-controlled tool designed to minimize
your anxiety by delivering a virtually painless injection. It allows for controlled,
effective and comfortable numbing of the tooth, in most cases without having your
cheek, lip, tongue or face affected. This contributes greatly to your comfort during
and after the dental appointment.
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LASER
There is a vast array of dental applications for laser energy. It can be used
to whiten your teeth,
improve the contour of your gums, and treat gum disease (periodontitis). Sometimes
during a routine cleaning (prophy) tartar or calculus is found to be deep under
the gumline. Many times it is too deep for the hygienist to reach it without the
patient being anesthetized. When this is the case, a clinician will perform a deep
scaling with anaesthesia using the laser. The patient is anesthetized which allows
the doctor to reach deep into the pockets of tartar and quickly and painlessly remove
the tartar. The laser breaks up the tartar and it is flushed out allowing the gums
to heal more effectively. It has also proven to be a pain free dentistry option
that is very effective in the treatment of aphthous ulcers (canker sores).
For more information on pain free dentistry or to book an appointment, contact us today.
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