Sedation encouraged for dental fear

The NHS is encouraging use of conscious sedation for patients who find it hard to overcome their fear of dentists, it has been reported.

Online dental resource Dentistry.co.uk explained many people avoid seeking dental treatment as a result of their phobia but that intravenous, oral or inhaled sedatives could manage pain as well as calm their nerves.

David Craig is the head of sedation and special care dentistry at Kings College London Dental Institute and the chair of the working group which formed the sedation guidelines put forward by the Faculty of General Dental Practice and Department of Health.

He told Dentistry.co.uk: “There is a shortage of suitably trained and experienced dentists who are able to offer alternative sedation techniques for the small number of patients who cannot be safely and effectively managed using standard techniques.”

Not-for-profit online resource Dental Fear Central reports that there are many different reasons for people feeling afraid of dentists, including embarrassment and fear of a lecture, fear of pain, needle phobia and gagging.