If you dread going to the dentist, you are far from alone, and it does not have to stop you getting the care you need. This guide explains how we help nervous patients at The Edge Dental, the types of sedation we offer, what happens on the day and what it costs, so you know what to expect before you book.
In the last UK-wide Adult Dental Health Survey, just over a third of adults who had been to the dentist had moderate dental anxiety, and about one in eight had extreme anxiety. For some people it is the injection, for others the sounds, the smell, lying back in the chair or a bad experience years ago. Many people put off check-ups because of it, and small problems then become bigger ones.
Most nervous patients do not need sedation. What helps most is time and knowing what is going to happen. If you tell us when you book that you find the dentist difficult, we will:
Give you time at the start of the appointment to talk about what worries you, before anything else happens.
Explain each step before we do it, and stop whenever you need us to. Agreeing a signal, such as raising a hand, is often enough.
Split treatment into shorter appointments if that is easier for you.
Talk you through sedation if you feel you need more help.
“Being a nervous person I have in the past found a visit to the dentist challenging. However since using The Edge Dental my confidence has soared. They make you feel very relaxed, explain any treatment you are having, all done in a friendly and professional manner.”
Kathleen Taylor, Google review
Sedation does not put you to sleep. You stay awake and able to talk to us, but feel much calmer. You will still have a local anaesthetic to numb the area being treated, given once you are relaxed. Sedation can also help if you have a strong gag reflex, or if you are having a long or complex procedure such as implant placement or a wisdom tooth removal.
Sometimes called “happy gas”, this is a mix of gas and oxygen breathed through a small mask over your nose. It works within a few minutes and wears off quickly once the mask is removed. You do not need to stop eating beforehand, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust describes it as very safe. You may not need an adult with you to get home; we will tell you if you do.
A sedative medicine taken by mouth before your appointment. We will tell you exactly when to take it, and you will need someone to bring you to the practice and take you home.
Intravenous (IV) sedation is a deeper form of sedation, often used for more severe anxiety. A sedative called midazolam is given through a thin tube, called a cannula, placed in the back of your hand or arm. It works quickly. You stay conscious, but feel very relaxed, and many people remember little of the treatment afterwards, although this is not the case for everyone. Your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored throughout.
For people who need it, we can arrange deeper, more specialised sedation provided by an anaesthetist. We will talk to you about whether this is suitable at your assessment.
Sedation starts with an assessment. We go through your medical history and any medicines you take, check sedation is safe for you and agree a plan. Let us know if you are, or might be, pregnant or breastfeeding.
For IV or oral sedation, you must come with a responsible adult who can take you home by car or taxi and stay with you afterwards. We give you written instructions, including whether you need to stop eating and drinking beforehand. Please follow these closely, as we cannot go ahead with sedation if it is not safe to.
After IV or oral sedation you may feel drowsy and unsteady for some hours, and your judgement can be affected for the rest of the day. NHS guidance such as the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust leaflet advises that for 24 hours you should not:
Drive, ride a bicycle or operate machinery
Drink alcohol
Sign legal documents or make important decisions
Look after children or other dependants on your own
Inhalation sedation wears off much faster. You will be given oxygen at the end of treatment and checked before you leave. Guy’s and St Thomas’ advises not driving or cycling for two hours afterwards. We will tell you what applies to you.
At The Edge Dental, sedation starts from £475 and inhalation sedation from £280. As we charge on a fee-per-item basis, these are in addition to the dental treatment itself. A new patient examination is £73.50. Before any treatment, you will receive a written plan with your costs. Our current prices are on our fees page.
If nerves have kept you away from the dentist, the first step is simply to tell us. Mention it when you call and we will make sure your first visit is unhurried, with nothing done that you have not agreed to. We are on London Road in Alderley Edge, a five-minute walk from the station and one stop from Wilmslow by train.
Read more about sedation at The Edge Dental, contact us online or call the practice on 01625 599 001.
