Dentist for nervous patients in London

We recognise and appreciate that dental phobia or a fear of the dentist is a very common anxiety which many of our patients experience. The Wimpole Street Dental Clinic takes pride in being the ideal clinic for nervous patients as we can help you to feel comfortable and calm during our dental treatments. With the experience of more than 1,200 operations in sedation among our dentists you will be in safe hands.

Last Updated: 

Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl

Clinically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa

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    Home » Treatments » Nervous Patients

    How do you calm nervous patients?

    For some, dental care seems unattainable due to the fear and anxiety caused by challenging past dental experiences and the complexities and duration of certain dental procedures.

    If you feel scared, nervous or uncomfortable when you get to the dentist’s practice, you’re not alone. Rest assured that there are ways to calm your nerves, especially if you are scared of the dentist but still need and agree to treatment.

    At Wimpole Street Dental Clinic we care that you feel comfortable and confident during your visit with us. We can offer conscious sedation to provide the relief needed to undergo an oral health visit and so overcome dental phobia clearing the way to achieve clinical success. You’ll never need to feel nervous visiting the dentist again.

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    What is conscious sedation?

    At Wimpole Street Dental Clinic, we understand your concerns and we take them very seriously. Understanding how conscious sedation works can help you feel more at ease before committing to a treatment.

    Conscious sedation is designed to make you feel comfortable, relaxed and safe during dental treatment. Administration of sedatives results in becoming drowsy, sleepy and pain-free. While you are in an optimal state of relaxation, you are not completely unconscious at any point during the treatment, which means you can communicate with your dentist at this time. Conscious sedation is achieved with intravenous agents such as benzodiazepines, opiates, other sedative/anaesthetic medications, usually administered into a vein, or by inhalation sedation agents such as nitrous oxide.

    A sedationist is present to watch your vital signs and ensure your safety throughout the procedure, so you can trust that the necessary precautions are taking place during your visit with us.

    What are the different types of dental sedation?

    We can help relieve your fear and anxiety when you sit in our dental chair. Today, there are three different levels of dental sedation recognised in the U.K. which can help. They include:

    Minimal sedation (or Anxiolysis): This is often referred to as changing your mood. With this sedative, you feel calm, are responsive to verbal commands and unconcerned about the dental treatment.

    Moderate sedation or conscious sedation: This is where you’re more deeply sedated, become drowsy and sleepy (and may even sleep intermittently), are responsive to verbal commands, and feel calm. You will not remember anything about the treatment.

    Deep sedation/General anaesthesia: At this level of sedation, you may become unconscious. This level of sedation is not allowed in the U.K. for sedation outside the operating room in hospitals and is not allowed in dental surgeries .

    What do recovery and side effects of sedation look like?

    Don’t worry. Unlike general anaesthesia, conscious sedation comes with a quick recovery time.

    Side effects are mild and rare as well. The most common include:
    – Nausea and vomiting
    – Headache
    – Muscle pain
    – Sore throat

    In fact, many patients recall experiencing very few side effects at all and feel very satisfied with the conscious sedation experience. If you are worried about any potential side effects of sedation, or perhaps you’re just a nervous patient, please feel free to express your concerns to your dentist who will be able to put your mind to ease.

    Is conscious sedation an option for everyone?

    As with any anaesthetic medication, your suitability to undergo conscious sedation is determined by your age, health, need, and the procedure that is due to be performed.
    From a medical perspective, if you are an adult who is healthy or has controlled medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes or asthma, you qualify for sedation. If you have significant or uncontrolled medical conditions, such as severe heart disease or morbid obesity, you need to be assessed to your suitability for sedation.

    When should patients consider conscious sedation?

    Conscious sedation dentistry is widely available for treatments at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic.

    – It’s a viable option for you to consider in instances such as:
    – Routine dentistry investigations, like biopsies or endoscopies
    – When you’re feeling very anxious and need assistance overcoming your fear and anxiety
    – When you’ve had a previous traumatic experience
    – Uncomfortable procedures
    – More invasive, complex and prolonged procedures
    – For specific treatments which may not be particularly painful, but require patients to be very still during the surgery

    How do patients prepare for conscious sedation?

    We would like to put you at ease from the moment you schedule your appointment with us until you leave our dental practice after the treatment.

    You will receive pre- and post-operation instructions during the initial consultation before the procedure. Generally, dentists recommend the following guidelines to prepare for conscious sedation:
    – No solid food for six hours prior to the procedure
    – All patients may have clear liquids until two hours before the procedure
    – If you are diabetic and follow strict dietary guidelines and eating schedules, talk to your dentist about this during the consultation.

    What treatment options are available for patients with dental phobia?

    Conscious sedation should always be evaluated with respect to other available options, such as local anaesthesia and/or regional anaesthesia, local anaesthesia with behavioural management techniques and general anaesthesia.

    There is no pressure whatsoever during a consultation. You will always be involved in the decision-making after receiving an explanation of the available options. Remember: our top priority is to provide a service of excellence while making you feel comfortable. We take a modern dental approach to dental phobia, ensuring you feel calm in our relaxed environment and endure no pain at all throughout the treatment process.

    What dental treatments can be done under sedation dentistry?

    Basically any treatment can be done under sedation. From simple dental care procedures like a professional dental hygiene, to cosmetic dentistry, to dental implants or bone augmentation procedures or even orthodontics can be done using the experience of an sedationist. Sedation dentistry can help to restore your teeth within a few visits.

    How does sedation dentistry work step-by-step?

    The precondition for a successful sedation dentistry treatment is to have a clear plan. An initial check-up in our dental office and the determination of a precise treatment plan are mandatory prior to sedation as we can’t change the agreed treatment whilst you asleep. If the medical and financial aspects of your treatment have been agreed you will come in for the sedation dentistry. By then the sedationist will have concluded that you are suitable for sedation and will just explain the procedure again. Then the sedations with inject the sedative drugs intravenously.

    Once you are calm and safe, the dentist will inject the local anaesthetic very carefully to ensure a pain-free dental procedure. With nervous dental patients we will always make sure the local anaesthetic works before we start the dental work. After the dental procedures are finished, the sedationist will reduce the amounts of drugs and wake you up very carefully. You will need around 10-15 minutes to be OK again. You can leave the premises accompanied.

    Speak to the best dentists in London for nervous patients today

    Whether you need minor dental care or are considering major dental surgery, our professional and award-winning team are always happy to help. Make an appointment for a consultation today.

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    38 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 8HZ

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    020 3745 7455

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    reception@wsdental.clinic

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