Pain Free and Non-Invasive Dentistry

Air abrasion provides an alternative to the high-speed handpiece for removing decay from tooth structure.

Its many purported advantages compared to traditional preparation procedures include:

• less invasive, more conservative treatment
  
• reduced need for local anesthetic
  
• earlier and more accurate diagnosis which reduces under- or over-treatment
  
• reduction or elimination of vibration, chipping, and micro-fracturing
  
• pain free procedure
  

The Dental Institute has a dedicated surgery for children. We go out of our way to make children feel welcome and relaxed when coming for Dental Treatment. Conscious Sedation is becoming very popular as an alternative to general anesthetic.

What is Conscious Sedation?

You’re not really asleep, but not completely awake either. You feel no pain, yet you respond to the surgeon’s commands. Afterwards, you do not remember anything of the dental treatment. Welcome to the world of conscious sedation!

• A controlled state of depressed consciousness during which the patient still has control over the protective reflexes and breathing, and can react to physical touch and verbal instructions.
• With conscious sedation, the anaesthesiologist’s aim is to produce a restful state of mind, i.e. to make an uncomfortable operation comfortable (in this case dental treatment), and to control pain.

Why should you opt for conscious sedation?

During the last years, conscious sedation has become popular for use in a variety of different settings and for different types of procedures. Here's why:

• Recovery is quick. Normal activity can usually be resumed within 12 hours after the operation.
  
• There is residual pain relief, in other words pain relief for a while after the procedure.
  
• It is convenient. Conscious sedation can be practised in theatres, freestanding facilities or in the dental or medical practitioner's office (given that all the necessary monitoring equipment is available). These locations are often less intimidating to patients who are anxious.
  
• It saves costs, as theatre and overnight hospital fees are cut.
  
• The side-effect profile is low. According to an American study, 96 percent of patients experience no side effects, like nausea and vomiting, which can be a common complaint after general anaesthesia.
  
• It is safe. The patient's level of consciousness, lung and heart function are all carefully monitored throughout the procedure to reduce possible risks. Computer-controlled infusion pumps increase the accuracy and patients have complete control over breathing. The protective reflexes – coughing and swallowing – also remain intact and communication is possible.

Who can benefit from it?

The unfamiliar environment of doctors' rooms, past traumatic experiences, fear of separation, and fear of pain can be a great source of anxiety especially for a child who has to undergo a surgical operation.
For this reason, children can be excellent candidates for outpatient procedures performed under conscious sedation. The procedure can be done in a facility with all the monitoring equipment and trained personnel available to make it safe. A parent can remain in the facility to comfort the child. And as the child is conscious throughout the procedure, the doctor can comfort the child by communicating with him or her.
However, conscious sedation can be applied to adults and children alike – especially in circumstances where fear, anxiety or patient discomfort is involved.