Pain free dentistry

Sedation

Our aim is to make your dental treatment as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
If you are feeling anxious or worried, please feel free to ask your Appledore clinician to discuss the type of anaesthetic or sedation you require. Hypnosis is also available.

Wand – almost painfree anaesthetic, this innovative method is available to all Appledore patients. As less anaesthetic is used than in the old fashioned method, your lips, face and facial muscles will often not go numb.

Surface anaesthetic – Before any local anaesthetic is injected into your gum tissue, surface anaesthetic gel is placed in your mouth. This makes the injection virtually painless.

Local anaesthetic – This is delivered by injection into your gum and makes the tooth being treated very numb. It lasts for approximately 1 – 2 hours and is considered very safe

Relative analgesia , gas & air – This is the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nose mask. The effect is to reduce anxiety and make you ‘floaty’ and relaxed. You will still have local anaesthetic to dull any painful sensations. It is very safe, and can even be given to patients with heart and breathing problems. Children can also use this form of sedative

Oral sedation – Temazepam tablets taken one hour before your appointment will make you sleepy. You WILL require an escort and you must NOT drive or operate machinery for up to 24 hours. Local anaesthetic will be given to stop any painful sensations

Intravenous Sedation – This is a valium type drug called Hypnovel, which is administered through a vein in your arm. It is essential to have a second dentist or appropriately trained dental nurse present when having this sedation as they act very much in the same way an anaesthetist does in an operating theatre, looking after your health and well being during the procedure.
Your dentist will of course be doing the dental treatment. We use electronic equipment to measure your blood pressure, heart rate and the amount of oxygen in your blood to ensure good health. Patients with some medical conditions will not be able to participate in this method of sedation due to possible complications. Rest assured that all our team have attended regular training on intravenous sedation and resuscitation, enabling us to carry out this procedure safely.
You WILL require an escort to take you home and you must NOT drive or operate machinery for up to 24 hours

Appledore hypnosis package

If you wish your treatment with an Appledore clinician can be combined with pre and post surgery hypnosis to aid relaxation without the need for sedation. This is a unique service offered by Appledore Dental Clinic.

Hypnosis has therapeutic benefits for:
Phobias Anxiety and stress related symptoms
Headaches Self esteem (public speaking, assertiveness)
Healthy eating Pain control (including Obstetrics)
Bruxism Unwanted habits (nail biting)
Smoking cessation Creative blocks and direction

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a deepened state of relaxation which helps increase your objectivity and awareness. Through this relaxation the barrier between your conscious and unconscious mind is dropped giving you the ability to gain personal insight. This is useful on a therapeutic basis for changing unwanted habits or beliefs. The hypnotherapist, acts as a guide through a journey in your own mind.

This works because your mind has 2 key parts:

• Your conscious mind, where you manifest your day to day behaviour as a product of the beliefs and experiences you have had in your life, and
• Your unconscious mind, where amongst other things, all your life memories are stored

In essence your mind ‘filters’ and modifies your life experiences to form what we call perception. Sometimes when either directly or indirectly we experience something uncomfortable or distressing, the ripples of that memory may linger and transform themselves into a belief or habit that is far removed from the original experience.

One common misconception with hypnosis is that you are under the control of another.
This could not be further from the truth.

Hypnosis is a safe and natural state of mind, similar to your daily experiences of just before you wake up, fall asleep or when you are simply daydreaming.

Hypnosis Information provided by:
Patrick Lucocq
DHyp BSCH
Clinical Hypnotherapy