Sleep Dentistry in Brisbane: Easy Dental Care with General Anaesthesia

There are three main types of sleep dentistry offered: treatment with happy gas in the dental chair, treatment under IV or twilight sedation in a dental chair, and dental treatment under general anaesthesia in a hospital. While happy gas does not put the patient to sleep, it helps them relax and may reduce anxiety during the procedure. Happy gas is less expensive than IV sedation or general anaesthesia and allows the sedation dentist more flexibility in scheduling. However, the dentist may recommend general anaesthesia for patients with extensive treatment needs or who cannot tolerate happy gas. There are limits to how much happy gas can be administered in a traditional dental office, while a full level of sedation can only be administered in a hospital setting.

Sleep dentistry using general anaesthesia offers specific benefits for individuals with special needs. Here are some of the advantages:

1. Improved Comfort and Cooperation: Individuals with physical or mental disabilities may have difficulty sitting still or cooperating during dental procedures. General anaesthesia ensures they are completely unconscious and relaxed, eliminating any discomfort or resistance.
2. Reduced Anxiety and Fear: Dental visits can be overwhelming for individuals with special needs due to sensory sensitivities or communication challenges. General anaesthesia allows them to bypass any anxiety or fear associated with the dental environment, ensuring a more relaxed and stress-free experience.
3. Enhanced Safety: Some individuals with special needs may have difficulty understanding instructions or exhibit uncontrolled movements, increasing the risk of injury during dental procedures. General anaesthesia ensures their safety by keeping them completely still and preventing accidental harm.
4. Efficient Treatment: Dental procedures can often be time-consuming, especially when dealing with special needs patients. Our dental team can work more efficiently with general anaesthesia since the patient is unconscious, which can help reduce the overall duration of the procedure.
5. Comprehensive Dental Care: Individuals with special needs may require more extensive or specialised dental treatment. Dentists can perform many procedures in a single session with general anaesthesia, including complex treatments, multiple wisdom teeth extractions, or oral surgery. This minimises the need for multiple appointments and ensures comprehensive care.
6. Reduced Traumatic Memories: Dental experiences that involve pain, fear, or discomfort can lead to lasting traumatic memories, making future dental visits even more challenging. Sleep dentistry with general anaesthesia allows individuals with special needs to have a painless and anxiety-free dental experience, reducing the likelihood of developing negative associations with dental care.

It’s important to note that the decision to use general anaesthesia should be made after thoroughly evaluating the patient’s specific needs and health conditions and in consultation with our dental care team. We can assess the individual’s suitability for general anaesthesia and provide appropriate guidance to ensure the best dental care for individuals with special needs.

Special needs dentists or paediatric dentists may recommend sleep dentistry for patients, including children, who have special needs that make it difficult for them to receive dental care in a traditional setting. Sleep dentistry may also be recommended for extensive dental treatment requiring multiple lengthy appointments.

One of the main reasons special needs dentists recommend sleep dentistry is to avoid traumatising the patient. Our sleep dentistry service in Brisbane allows the special needs dentist to perform procedures the patient might not tolerate while awake. For example, a paediatric dentist may recommend sleep dentistry for a baby who needs spacers, as placing space maintainers can be challenging for young children (e.g. three years old).

• Tooth extractions (e.g. wisdom teeth removal)
• Dental implants
• Gum disease treatment
• Dental bone grafting
• Root canal treatment
• Oral surgery
• Cleft lip or palate treatment
• Dental crowns & bridges

General anaesthesia helps people who are having long or complicated dental treatments by making the experience more comfortable and less stressful. It works by putting the person to sleep, similar to when they’re having surgery at a hospital. During this deep sleep, they won’t feel anything and won’t be aware of what’s happening.

The benefits of our sleep dentistry service in Brisbane for these types of dental procedures are:

1. Pain-Free Treatment: General anaesthesia ensures that the person won’t experience any pain during the procedure. They’ll be completely asleep and won’t feel the dental tools or discomfort.
2. Reduced Anxiety and Fear: Complex dental procedures can be intimidating and cause anxiety. With general anaesthesia, the person doesn’t have to worry or feel scared because they won’t be conscious or aware of what’s happening. It helps them relax and eliminates any fears they may have.
3. Improved Focus and Efficiency: When a dental procedure is long or complicated, it requires a lot of concentration and precision from the sedation dentist. General anaesthesia allows the dentist to work more efficiently because the person is completely still and relaxed. This can help shorten the overall time needed for the treatment.
4. Comprehensive Treatment in One Session: Some extensive procedures require multiple visits to the dentist. With general anaesthesia, the dentist can complete all the necessary work in a single session while the person is sedated. It saves time, eliminates the need for multiple appointments, and ensures everyone receives all the required dental care simultaneously.
5. No Unpleasant Memories: People may have unpleasant memories or anxiety related to past dental experiences. They won’t remember anything about the procedure with general anaesthesia because they were asleep. Sleep dentistry helps prevent the formation of negative associations with dental visits, making future appointments less daunting.

It’s important to discuss the use of general anaesthesia with the sedation dentist or oral surgeon to understand the potential risks and benefits specific to each individual. They will assess the person’s health and the complexity of the dental procedure and make an informed decision to provide the best possible care while ensuring safety and comfort.

Contact us if you have any questions about our sleep dentistry service in Brisbane for dental implant sedation, wisdom teeth sedation, special needs dental sedation, root canal treatment sedation, or general dental sedation in Brisbane.

• Parkinson’s Disease: This condition can cause tremors and uncontrolled movements, making it difficult for patients to stay still during dental procedures.
• Cerebral Palsy: Similar to Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy can cause muscle spasms or involuntary movements that can interfere with dental procedures.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: Some individuals with autism may have difficulty with sensory processing, including discomfort with the sounds, tastes, and sensations associated with dental procedures. They may also have difficulty staying still for extended periods.
• Down Syndrome: Individuals with Down syndrome may have certain physical characteristics, such as a smaller oral cavity or larger tongue, that can make dental procedures more challenging. They may also have difficulty understanding and cooperating during dental procedures.
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia: Patients with cognitive impairments may not understand the need for dental procedures and may become agitated or distressed.
• Severe Anxiety Disorders: While not a physical condition, severe anxiety disorders, including dental phobia, can make dental visits extremely stressful. In these cases, general anaesthesia may be considered to help the patient relax and ensure the dental procedure can be performed safely.
• Developmental Disorders: Other developmental disorders, such as ADHD, can make it difficult for patients to sit still during a dental procedure.
• Epilepsy: For patients with epilepsy, the stress of a dental procedure could potentially trigger a seizure. Using general anaesthesia can help manage this risk.
• Certain Genetic Disorders: Certain genetic disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can affect the body’s connective tissue and may require special considerations during dental procedures.

It’s important to note that the decision to use general anaesthesia for sleep dentistry should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient’s overall health, the specific dental procedure, and the potential benefits and risks. The decision to use our sleep dentistry service in Brisbane should be made in consultation with the dentist or oral surgeon and, if necessary, the patient’s primary care physician or specialist.

Treatment Options for Children Who Have Difficulty Cooperating

Paediatric dentists can provide dental treatment for children who cannot cooperate with dental procedures in a traditional setting. One of the reasons that dentists refer patients to kids’ dentists is that they can treat children while they are asleep. The paediatric dentist can administer laughing gas; however, if the child cannot coordinate breathing through their nose while their mouth is open, the laughing gas is ineffective, and the dentist may recommend treatment while the child is asleep. Contact us for more information on our sleep dentistry in Brisbane service.

Important Considerations

• When a child is being treated under general anaesthesia, the kids’ dentist will consider the reason for the procedure and whether removing and replacing the tooth would cause more damage.
• Kids’ dentists also prefer to avoid removing baby teeth unless necessary, as they help guide adult teeth. If a baby tooth does need to be removed, a spacer (space maintainer) can be placed to hold the space open for the adult tooth.

• During the initial consultation for sleep dentistry in Brisbane, the sedation dentist will examine the patient’s teeth, take X-rays if necessary, and discuss the patient’s medical history.
• The sedation dentist will then create a treatment plan and discuss available sedation options, including general anaesthesia, IV sedation, and happy gas.
• If the patient decides to proceed with general anaesthesia, the sleep dentist will explain the procedure in detail and answer any questions the patient may have.
• The sedation dentist will also inform the patient about the estimated costs involved, including the sedation dentist’s fee, the anesthesiologist’s, and the hospital admission fee.
• The patient will be required to complete a medical history form and may need to consult an anesthesiologist to ensure they are a suitable candidate for sleep dentistry under general anaesthesia.
• A deposit is required to secure the booking.

After the initial consultation with the sleep dentist is complete, the following coordination is typically required before booking dental treatment under general anaesthesia:

• • Confirmation of Treatment Plan: The sedation dentist will create a treatment plan outlining the procedures needed, which the patient needs to review and agree to.
  • Securing a Date and Time: The dentist will coordinate with the patient and the hospital to find a suitable date and time for the sleep dentistry procedure in Brisbane.
  • Anaesthetist Arrangements: The dental coordinator will schedule an anesthesiologist for the procedure and provide the patient with their contact information. The anaesthetist will typically contact the patient a few days (e.g. two days) before the procedure to discuss medical history and preoperative instructions, including fasting requirements.
  • Hospital Pre-admission: The patient must complete a pre-admission form for the hospital. The dental coordinator or the hospital will usually provide the link for this form.
  • Consent Forms: The patient must sign consent forms for both the dental practice and the hospital. The dental office will provide these forms.
  • Payment Coordination: There are three sides to the costs of sleep dentistry. The patient will typically need to pay a deposit to the dental clinic to secure the booking. The remaining balance for the dental fees is usually due a week before the procedure. The anesthesiologist and the hospital will have their own separate fees. The anaesthetist typically requires payment a few days before the procedure, while the hospital may collect payment on the day of the procedure. The patient is responsible for understanding their insurance coverage and settling out-of-pocket expenses.

• Patients undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia will have their sleep dentistry procedure at a hospital, not in a traditional dental chair at the Pure Dentistry clinic in Upper Mount Gravatt, Brisbane.
• The patient must arrive at the hospital about an hour or two before the scheduled procedure time for admission.
• During the procedure, an anaesthetist will administer the general anaesthesia, and the patient will be completely asleep.
• The dentist will then perform the necessary dental treatment, including wisdom tooth extractions, fillings, crowns, implants, root canals, paediatric dentistry for children, etc.

• After the sleep dentistry procedure, the patient will be monitored in a recovery area until they are awake and alert.
• The dentist will instruct the patient on postoperative care, including pain management, oral hygiene, and eating restrictions.
• Patients will need to avoid swimming for approximately ten days after extractions.
• The patient must schedule a follow-up appointment with the sleep dentist to monitor their healing and address concerns.

• Dental treatment under general anaesthesia provides extra comfort for the patient and is pricier than local anaesthesia because of the additional fees associated with the anesthesiologist and hospital.
• Medicare does not cover dental treatment under general anaesthesia in the hospital, but private health insurance may cover part or all of the costs, depending on your level of coverage.
• Patients are responsible for paying the sleep dentist’s fees upfront and can submit an itemised invoice to their private health insurer for reimbursement after the sleep procedure is completed.
• The anaesthetist and the hospital will bill patients separately.