RA Sedation

Is there anything that can help me with my fear of the dentist?

Yes. Some people are so frightened of the dentist that they will not go for dental treatment. They can overcome their fears with relaxation or sedation. We are very sympathetic about these feelings, and you can ask us about ways to help.

What is sedation?

Sedation is when drugs are used to make you feel less anxious and more relaxed. It will make you drowsy, less aware of what is happening and with few memories of what has happened to you during your treatment. It does not make you unconscious and you will be aware of hat is happening.

There are different levels of sedation and several methods can be used.

You may have sedation:

• By swallowing a medicine (oral) – usually temazepam
• By breathing gas through a nosepiece – ‘relative analgesia’
• By injection into your hand or arm – intravenous (IV)

How do I know which technique is right for me?

Most people can use relaxation techniques, but relative analgesia and sedation may not be suitable for everyone. We will tell you what we think will be best for you. At Carton Dental we offer oral sedation and ‘relative analgesia’. If you require IV sedation we can refer you to a dentist that provides this.

Relative Analgesia (RA) Sedation

‘Relative Analgesia’ is sometimes called ‘inhalation sedation' or ‘happy air’. This means breathing in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen ('gas and air') which quickly leads to a pleasant, relaxed feeling. The dental team puts you at ease at the same time, by talking softly and suggesting what you feel. You are still conscious all the time, although you may be a little drowsy, and any treatment given causes you no discomfort.

There are no after-effects with this type of sedation, and you can drive a car after about 15 minutes. This an incredibly safe and effective technique.

RA sedation is helpful for adults and children but it is not suitable for pregnant patients.