Gentle dentistry. No judgement. Sedation when you need a little more support. eeling nervous about dental treatment is more common than you might think.
At Manor Lodge Dental Practice in Edgware, we understand that dental anxiety can range from feeling slightly uneasy before an appointment to being so worried that you have avoided the dentist for many years.
Whatever your experience, you will be treated with patience, understanding and respect. We take time to listen, explain and work at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
For patients who need additional help to feel relaxed during dental treatment, we offer both inhalation sedation and intravenous (IV) conscious sedation, where clinically appropriate.
It’s OK to feel nervous about the dentist
There are many reasons why someone may feel anxious about dental treatment.
You may have:
You never need to feel embarrassed about telling us that you are nervous.
There is no judgement about your teeth or how long it has been since your last dental appointment.
Our first priority is helping you feel comfortable enough to take the next step.
Sometimes the first appointment is simply about talking
We don’t believe every nervous patient needs sedation.
For many people, having enough time, knowing what is going to happen and feeling in control can make an enormous difference.
We can discuss your concerns before treatment begins, explain procedures clearly and agree ways for you to let us know whenever you would like us to stop.
Where anxiety remains significant, we can discuss whether conscious sedation could make your treatment easier.
Two options to help you feel more relaxed
We offer inhalation sedation and IV conscious sedation.
The most appropriate option depends on your individual needs, medical history, level of anxiety and the dental treatment being considered.
A clinical assessment is therefore required before deciding which approach is suitable for you.
A gentle way to feel calmer
Inhalation sedation involves breathing a carefully controlled mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nosepiece.
It can help reduce anxiety and create a feeling of relaxation while you remain awake and able to communicate with your dental team.
It can be particularly helpful for patients who are nervous about dental treatment and for appropriately assessed children and adults.
The effects generally wear off relatively quickly once the sedation is stopped.
For patients who need a greater level of relaxation
For patients with more significant dental anxiety, or when certain treatments are being carried out, intravenous conscious sedation may be appropriate.
A sedative medication is administered through a small cannula placed into a vein, usually in your hand or arm.
You remain conscious and able to communicate, but typically feel very relaxed and drowsy. Many patients remember little about the procedure afterwards.
IV conscious sedation is not a general anaesthetic — you are not being put to sleep.
Local anaesthetic is still normally used to numb the area being treated.
Following IV sedation, you will need a responsible adult escort and must follow the pre- and post-sedation instructions provided by your dental team.
You don’t need to decide this yourself.
Your dentist will talk to you about:
Together, we can discuss the most appropriate way of making your dental treatment as manageable and comfortable as possible.
Sedation is always subject to clinical assessment and suitability.
Please don’t let embarrassment stop you
We understand that dental anxiety can create a cycle.
You feel nervous about visiting the dentist, so you delay your appointment. The longer you leave it, the more worried you become about what the dentist might find.
At Manor Lodge Dental Practice, we are here to help you move forward — not to judge what has happened in the past.
Your first visit can simply be the beginning of getting comfortable with dentistry again.
One appointment. One conversation. One step at a time.
Inhalation sedation involves breathing nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nosepiece. It helps reduce anxiety and makes many patients feel calmer and more relaxed.
It can simply be a conversation.
If fear or anxiety has prevented you from visiting the dentist, talk to the team at Manor Lodge Dental Practice in Edgware.
Together, we can find a way to make dentistry feel more manageable.
Inhalation Sedation • IV Conscious Sedation • Gentle Dental Care
