Pacific Smiles Dental understands that dental visits can be overwhelming and can cause high levels of anxiety for some patients. Often this level of anxiety can discourage patients from visiting the dentist and thereby preventing them from obtaining treatment often required to improve their oral health.

Pacific Smiles Dental is passionate about providing dental care that promotes positive dental health, helping patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles for life. For this reason, Pacific Smiles Dental offers Sleep Dentistry procedures at selected Pacific Smiles Dental Clinics by appropriately trained Practitioners. Patients can choose to undergo sleep dentistry by either sleeping through their dental treatment whilst under general anaesthetic in a private hospital, or via sedation in selected Dental Clinics.

Sleep Dentistry through general anaesthetic procedures are carried out in private hospitals using the latest in specialised dental equipment and materials. Patients are required to visit a participating Pacific Smiles Dental Clinic for a consultation (including a dental examination and diagnostic x-rays). Arrangements are then made with the appropriate private hospital where their dental treatment will be provided by an accredited dentist from Pacific Smiles Dental. Most dental patients are admitted as day only patients and ordinarily discharged within 2 hours of their procedure. Contact your local centre to find out if they offer sleep dentistry via general anaesthetic.

As an alternative, sleep dentistry can also be carried out under sedation in selected Dental Clinic. Sedation options available include relative analgesia such as Nitrous Oxide (also known as laughing gas) and intravenous sedation. Relative analgesia such as nitrous oxide is inhaled by the patient and assists in reducing anxiety. Intravenous sedation is administered by an Anaesthetist or doctor with training in intravenous sedation, in the Dental Clinic and involves a combination of sedative and pain relieving medicaments to create a drowsy and dream-like state of deep, calming relaxation for the entire duration of the dental procedure. Contact your local clinic to find out if they offer dental treatments under sedation.

Sleep dentistry offers patients benefits such as:

Sleeping through – General anaesthetic patients sleep through their entire dental procedure unaware of the sight, smell and sounds, easing fear, anxiety and discomfort. Patients receiving treatment under intravenous sedation experience a similar effect, without being asleep.

Comfort – patients are relieved of possible discomfort associated with long and complex procedures

Safety – patients can rest assure that their procedure is being managed with specialised equipment and personnel

Time effectiveness – patients can often have several/all necessary dental treatments completed in one session rather than multiple visits to the Dental Centre.

Children and adults alike can have most dental procedures performed via sleep dentistry including fillings, crowns, multiple extractions, removal of wisdom teeth and implant placements. A consultation with the anaesthetist is required to ensure patients are medically fit for sedation. Estimates for dental treatment using sleep dentistry can be provided at the time of consultation. Patients with Private Health Insurance should consult their insurer regarding any rebates/assistance for treatment provided under general anaesthetic in the hospital setting.

For further information on how Pacific Smiles Dental can make your visit to the dentist a dream contact your local Pacific Smiles Dental Centre.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.