Sleep dentistry in Brisbane
Sedation dentistry for people who find dental treatment difficult. Happy gas, twilight IV sedation and general anaesthesia, arranged from our Upper Mt Gravatt clinic.
Comfort-based care
Sleep dentistry for the visits you'd otherwise avoid
If dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex or a long list of treatment has kept you away, sedation changes what a dental visit asks of you. We provide happy gas and twilight IV sedation at our Upper Mt Gravatt clinic, and arrange general anaesthesia in a Brisbane private hospital with a specialist anaesthetist. Nobody is held still, and nothing is booked until you have a written plan you are happy with.
Your options
Three levels of sedation
From taking the edge off to being fully asleep. Which one is appropriate depends on your medical history, your anxiety and the treatment you need, and is decided together at your consultation.
Happy Gas
Inhalation relaxation
You stay awake
Best suited to
Mild anxiety or a mild gag reflex. A good first step for nervous patients and many children.
What to expect
Awake and relaxed. It takes the edge off without putting you to sleep.
Recovery
Wears off within minutes. You can usually drive yourself home.
IV Sedation
Twilight sedation
Deeply relaxed
Best suited to
Moderate to strong anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or longer appointments.
What to expect
Calm and responsive, but most patients remember little of the visit.
Recovery
A few hours to feel yourself. You will need someone to drive you home.
General Anaesthetic
Fully asleep
Fully asleep
Best suited to
Severe phobia, a severe gag reflex, complex treatment, or special health care needs.
What to expect
Completely unaware of the procedure from start to finish.
Recovery
Rest for the day. Arrange a lift and someone to stay with you.
Happy gas and IV sedation are provided in the chair at our Upper Mt Gravatt clinic. General anaesthesia takes place in a Brisbane private hospital, with a specialist anaesthetist present throughout. Read more about happy gas, IV sedation and general anaesthesia.
Who it helps
When sleep dentistry is worth considering
Sedation is not for everyone, and most dental treatment does not need it. For some people, though, it is the difference between getting care and putting it off for years.
Dental anxiety and dental phobia
Dental fear is common, and dental phobia is a genuine and intense form of it. Avoiding the dentist for years can take a real toll on your oral health, and sedation can offer a way back in without forcing the issue.
Children and teenagers
For very young children, children with strong dental fear, or those needing work on several teeth, treatment while asleep can avoid a distressing experience in the chair. We do not force a child through treatment.
Special needs and sensory sensitivities
For adults and children with physical, cognitive or sensory differences, staying still and tolerating the sounds and sensations of dentistry can be genuinely hard. Sedation offers another way.
A strong gag reflex
The gag reflex is the body protecting the airway, and for some people dental instruments set it off constantly. Sedation can reduce the reflex enough for treatment to be completed.
Extensive or complex treatment
Where multiple dental procedures are needed, sedation can allow more to be completed in fewer appointments, which suits people who find repeat visits difficult.
Certain medical conditions
Conditions involving tremor, involuntary movement, seizures or cognitive change can make ordinary dental appointments difficult. Suitability is assessed case by case with your medical history.
The approach
Monitored care, at every step
Vital signs are monitored throughout, and general anaesthesia is administered by a specialist anaesthetist in a hospital setting. Nobody is held still, and nothing goes ahead until you understand it.
What can be treated
Dental treatment carried out under sedation
Most of the treatment we provide in the chair can also be provided under sedation, and often several procedures can be completed in the one appointment.
- Wisdom teeth removal and other extractions
- Dental implants and bone grafting
- Root canal treatment
- Dental fillings and restorations
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Gum disease and periodontal treatment
- Dental veneers
- Paediatric dentistry and space maintainers
Step by step
How the process works
Treatment under general anaesthesia takes coordination between our clinic, your anaesthetist and the hospital. Here is what to expect.
-
Consultation and assessment
A consultation is required before any sedation is arranged. We examine your teeth, take X-rays or 3D CBCT imaging if needed, and go through your medical history and current medications. Our clinic also uses a Zeiss microscope and iTero digital scanning to plan treatment precisely.
You leave with a written treatment plan, an explanation of the sedation options that suit your situation, and an outline of the fees involved.
-
Preparation and coordination
Once you have agreed to the plan, we secure a date with the hospital and arrange your anaesthetist. They will contact you beforehand to discuss your medical history and pre-operative instructions, including fasting.
You complete a hospital pre-admission form and sign consent forms for both the practice and the hospital. A deposit secures the booking.
-
The procedure
Treatment under general anaesthesia happens at the hospital rather than in our dental chair. You arrive an hour or two before your scheduled time for admission.
The specialist anaesthetist administers the anaesthetic and monitors your vital signs throughout while the dental treatment is carried out.
-
Recovery and post-procedure care
You rest in a recovery area until you are awake and alert, usually one to two hours, with a parent present for children. You will need a lift home and someone with you for the day.
We provide recovery instructions covering pain relief, oral hygiene and eating, and arrange a follow-up appointment to check healing.
-
Fees and payment
There are three separate sets of fees: ours, the anaesthetist's and the hospital's. We will always give you the dental costs in writing before anything is booked.
Not sure where you fit?
Start with a conversation
You do not have to decide on a sedation option before you come in. Book a consultation, tell us what you find difficult, and we will talk through what is appropriate for you or your child.
Speak to our team
Call (07) 3343 4869Meet Our Team
Who will look after you
Your treatment is planned and carried out by our dentists. Where general anaesthesia is used, it is administered by a registered specialist anaesthetist in a hospital setting.
Dr Sari Simawy
Provides general and sedation dentistry for adults, with a calm, methodical approach and a focus on explaining each option clearly before treatment begins.
Dr Matthew Peyravi
An experienced dentist providing general, restorative and sedation care, who takes time to talk patients through what to expect at each step.
Dr Thomas Sakhapour
Focuses on thorough, reassuring care for adults, and on explaining every option and its alternatives clearly before any treatment or sedation is booked.
Sedation and general anaesthesia are carried out in monitored settings, and your anaesthetist reviews your medical history and medications before the day. As with any procedure involving anaesthesia there are risks, which are uncommon but real, and they are discussed with you as part of consent. Tell us about your health history and any medications you take so we can help you weigh it up and make an informed decision.
Fees and cover
What it costs, and how people pay
Treatment under general anaesthesia carries more cost than the same treatment in the chair, because there are three parties involved rather than one. We put the dental portion in writing before anything is booked.
Three separate fees
The dental fee from us, the anaesthetist's fee, and the hospital fee. The anaesthetist and the hospital bill you directly and separately from the practice.
Medicare and health funds
Medicare does not cover dental treatment under general anaesthesia in hospital. Private health insurance may contribute depending on your level of cover. We provide itemised invoices you can submit to your health fund.
Afterpay and TLC Payment Options
Spread the cost of treatment with payment options like Afterpay and TLC, so you can get started sooner and pay in smaller instalments over time. We can talk through what is workable for your situation.
Using superannuation
Eligible dental treatment, including hospital-based sleep dentistry, may be paid for using early release of superannuation through SuperCare, subject to ATO approval.
Good to know
Sleep dentistry questions
What is sleep dentistry?
Sleep dentistry, also called sedation dentistry or dental sedation, is dental treatment carried out with the help of sedation. It ranges from happy gas in the chair, to twilight IV sedation, to general anaesthesia in hospital where you are fully asleep. Which option is appropriate is decided at a consultation, based on your medical history and the treatment you need.
What are the three types of sedation?
Happy gas (nitrous oxide) is inhaled through a small nose mask and keeps you awake but relaxed. Twilight IV sedation is given through a drip and leaves most people deeply relaxed with little memory of the visit. General anaesthesia is given in hospital by a specialist anaesthetist, and you are fully asleep for the procedure.
Is sleep dentistry suitable for children?
It can be. Dr Soha Sharif provides paediatric sleep dentistry for children and teenagers up to 14 years of age, in hospital under the care of a specialist anaesthetist. It is often considered for very young children, children with significant dental anxiety or sensory needs, or children who need treatment on several teeth.
Which dental treatments can be done under sleep dentistry?
Treatment carried out under general anaesthesia can include wisdom teeth removal and other extractions, dental implants, root canal treatment, fillings and restorations, crowns and bridges, gum disease treatment, bone grafting and other oral surgery. Several procedures can often be completed in the one appointment.
Do I need a consultation first?
Yes. A consultation is required so we can examine your teeth, take X-rays if needed, review your medical history and current medications, and discuss which sedation option is appropriate for you. You will also receive a written treatment plan and an outline of the fees involved.
Where does the procedure take place?
Happy gas and IV sedation are provided at our Upper Mt Gravatt clinic. Treatment under general anaesthesia takes place in a Brisbane private hospital rather than the dental chair, with a specialist anaesthetist present throughout.
How long is recovery?
Happy gas wears off within minutes and most people drive themselves home. After IV sedation you will need someone to drive you home and it takes a few hours to feel yourself. After general anaesthesia you rest in a recovery area until you are awake and alert, then need a lift home and someone to stay with you for the day.
What does sleep dentistry cost?
There are three separate sets of fees for treatment under general anaesthesia: the dental fee, the anaesthetist's fee and the hospital fee. You receive a written treatment plan with the dental costs before proceeding, and the anaesthetist and hospital bill you separately. Fees depend entirely on the treatment required.
Does health insurance or Medicare cover it?
Medicare does not cover dental treatment under general anaesthesia in hospital. Private health insurance may contribute to part of the cost depending on your level of cover. Some patients also use eligible superannuation through SuperCare. We can give you itemised invoices to submit to your health fund.
Is sleep dentistry safe?
Sedation and general anaesthesia are carried out in monitored settings, and general anaesthesia is administered by a specialist anaesthetist who reviews your medical history beforehand. As with any procedure involving anaesthesia there are risks, which are uncommon but real, and these are discussed with you as part of consent so you can make an informed decision.
This page is general information only and is not a substitute for individual advice. Whether any sedation option is appropriate for you or your child can only be determined at a consultation, taking your medical history into account.
Book an appointment
Book a sleep dentistry consultation
Call us or book online to arrange a consultation with our team. We will review your medical history, talk through the options, and give you a clear plan and costs before anything is booked.
Send an enquiry
Ask us about sleep dentistry
Have a question, or want to arrange a consultation? Send us a few details and our team will get back to you. For anything urgent, call (07) 3343 4869.
