Sedation & Sleep Dentistry

Helping the many people who fear the dentist

What’s keeping you from the dentist?

If it’s fear, discomfort, or the inconvenience of making multiple visits, sedation dentistry can help.

Fear and anxiety about dental treatments is very common and completely understandable – however, there are now a variety of ways you can reduce your fears and experience an anxiety-free, even pleasant visit to the dentist.

Our Services

Preferred Providers

1. Inhalation Sedation (Happy Gas)

Happy gas is one of the most common forms of dental sedation. It works by administering small doses of Nitrous Oxide (happy gas) to put you in a consciously relaxed state during treatment.

Reduces pain
Reduces anxiety
Reduces the gag reflex
Patients will often experience a feeling of well-being and euphoria

The technique involves placing a mask over your nose, and then breathing through your nose.

The gases have a slightly sweet smell and are well tolerated by even the most sensitive noses. The dentist will adjust the percentage of nitrous oxide to oxygen to suit you.

The technique has a number of advantages over other techniques:

It is less expensive than other techniques
It is simple
No escort is required
No fasting is required
There is a rapid onset and fast recovery
It is suitable for children

Unfortunately the technique is not suitable for all. Some anxious and phobic people require a deeper form of sedation. In general, pregnant women should not receive inhalation sedation. People with nasal obstructions and mouth breathers may also find this method unsuitable.

2. Intravenous Sedation

For people who require a greater degree of sedation, or if the procedure is of a nature that requires the patient to be sedated, intravenous sedation may be suitable. With this technique a sedative is injected into a vein in the arm by a qualified sedationist or anaesthetist.

The advantages are:

Patients usually remember nothing of the procedure, and
It is suitable for a wide range of people and procedures.

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Additionally, LifeCare Dental does not accept liability to any person for the information or advice provided on this website or incorporated into it by reference. Content has been prepared for Western Australian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.