You Are Not Alone
Studies suggest that up to 22 percent of Canadians avoid the dentist due to fear or anxiety. Whether your anxiety stems from a past negative experience, fear of needles, sensitivity to sounds and smells, or simply feeling out of control in the dental chair, know that you're not alone and that effective solutions exist. At Colwood Dental Group, helping anxious patients feel at ease is something our entire team takes seriously.
Sedation Options We Offer
We provide multiple levels of sedation to match your comfort needs. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a mild option that helps you relax while remaining fully awake and responsive. Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed medication before your appointment, producing a deeper level of relaxation where you may feel drowsy but can still communicate. For patients who need more extensive work or have severe anxiety, IV sedation administered by our qualified team provides a deeper level of comfort where most patients remember little of the procedure.
What to Expect
Before any sedation appointment, we review your medical history and discuss which option is best for you. On the day of your visit, you'll be monitored throughout the entire procedure. For oral and IV sedation, you'll need a responsible adult to drive you home. Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how comfortable their experience turns out to be. Many tell us they wish they'd tried sedation dentistry years ago.
Breaking the Cycle
Dental anxiety often creates a vicious cycle: avoiding the dentist leads to worsening dental health, which leads to more extensive treatment needs, which increases anxiety further. Sedation dentistry helps break this cycle by making it possible to get the care you need in comfort. Once patients experience a positive visit, future appointments become much less daunting. If anxiety has been keeping you from the dentist, we encourage you to call us for a no-pressure conversation about your options.
Further Reading
- Sedation Program Standards | BC College of Oral Health Professionals
- Managing Dental Anxiety | Canadian Dental Association
