Before I tell you what sleep sedation dentistry is in specific terms, it really makes sense for me to quote an excerpt from a patient testimonial letter, something given to my fathers practice long ago, after his experience opting for sedation in order to solve his dental issues. You’ll want to read this, trust me.

“First I want to examine what sleep dentistry is NOT. It is NOT an experience wherein you are essentially banished to a wholly uncomfortable environment and forced to choose between the view of either a blinding white light or the nose hairs of at least 2 people – all while they poke, prod, stretch and manipulate everything on your face located below your forehead.

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People don’t like dentists as a rule, which is why sleep or sedation dentistry is a viable option. Poking around inside someone’s mouth is usually a no-no for so many of us. This fear can evolve into a full blown phobia over time, either from a past bad experience with pain at a dental procedure, or from just being scared of the entire process. There are those who say that it is simply the patient perspective that leads to such phobias and fears. Some of us simply dislike sitting in the chair with numerous people hovering over them, poking and prodding. The noises of drills and other dental machines are often added to a negative patient perspective, and that can also lead to fears that develop over time.

There are some experts that say a fear of dentistry can start from a patients initial embarrassment of their current dental condition, and that this can eventually can lead to phobias which delays necessary treatment. Whatever the cause may be is being effectively quelled by sleep and sedation dentistry, or by using the many anesthetizing and anti-anxiety medications to leave a patient completely relaxed while the more invasive work of a dentist is completed.
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