Sleep Dentistry: Who Is It For and How Does It Work?

Dental anxiety is one of the most common barriers to seeking dental care — and one of the most significant contributors to the cycle of dental disease. Patients who avoid the dentist due to fear tend to present with more advanced problems that require more invasive and expensive treatment, which in turn reinforces their anxiety. Sleep dentistry and sedation break this cycle.

What Is Sleep Dentistry?

Sleep dentistry is a colloquial term used to describe dental treatment performed under sedation. The patient is not literally asleep — rather, they are in a deeply relaxed, semiconscious state in which they are unaware of the procedure taking place. Most patients have little to no memory of the appointment afterwards.

Types of Sedation Available at Experteeth

• Relative analgesia (happy gas) — inhaled nitrous oxide that induces calm and reduces sensitivity, while the patient remains fully conscious
• Oral sedation — a sedative tablet taken before the appointment that produces moderate relaxation
• IV conscious sedation — administered intravenously by an accredited sedation provider, producing deeper sedation while maintaining protective reflexes
• General anaesthesia — available at select Experteeth clinics for complex cases or patients with extreme anxiety

Who Can Benefit?

• Patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety or phobia
• Patients with a strong gag reflex
• Those requiring extensive or complex dental treatment in fewer visits
• Patients with special needs or cognitive disabilities
• Children who are unable to cooperate for standard treatment

Is It Safe?

All sedation at Experteeth is carried out by appropriately trained and accredited clinicians in facilities equipped for sedation monitoring. Your medical history, current medications and overall health will be carefully reviewed before any sedation is recommended. Patient safety is our absolute priority.