Lots of people feel anxious about the dentist, and many put off going for years. We'll never judge you for that. We'll go at your pace, explain everything first, and if you need it, offer sedation to help you through treatment.
Nothing happens until you're ready, and you can change your mind at any point.
Say you're nervous. That's all you need to do. We'll book you a longer first appointment and let your dentist know.
Your first visit can be talking, with no treatment at all. Tell us what worries you: the noise, injections, gagging, a bad experience before.
We explain what your mouth needs and the options, including sedation. Nothing happens until you're ready.
Agree a stop signal with your dentist. Raise your hand and we'll stop.
We check how it went and plan the next visit together. Many people find each appointment gets a little easier.
Conscious sedation uses medicine to help you feel deeply relaxed during treatment. You stay awake and able to talk to us throughout. It isn't a general anaesthetic.
You breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small mask over your nose. Within a few minutes you feel relaxed and calm. When the mask comes off, the effects wear off quickly.
May suit: Often suits mild to moderate anxiety, people with a strong gag reflex, and younger patients.
Getting home: Adults usually don't need someone to take them home, but your dentist will tell you if you do. Children and young people under 16 always need an adult with them.
A sedative medicine is given through a thin needle in the back of your hand or arm. You become very relaxed, and many people remember little of the treatment afterwards. If you're worried about needles, we can put numbing cream on first.
May suit: Often suits more severe anxiety, longer or more involved treatment, and people who have found treatment impossible before.
Getting home: A responsible adult must come with you, take you home (by car or taxi, ideally) and stay with you for the rest of the day. If your appointment is later in the day, they may need to stay overnight.
To confirm: Please confirm who provides each type of sedation at Bearsden, and whether IV sedation is provided by Dr Gibson only.
To confirm: Is sedation available on the NHS, privately, or both? We'll state it once you confirm.
Sedation always starts with an assessment, usually at a separate appointment before treatment. We'll go through your medical history and medicines, check your blood pressure, oxygen level and pulse, talk about your anxiety and the treatment you need, and decide with you which type of sedation, if any, is right. You'll have time to think before agreeing.
To confirm: Please send your own sedation aftercare leaflet so the restrictions here match it word for word (we've used SDCEP's guidance and the usual list).
Based on the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme's guidance, Conscious Sedation in Dentistry (third edition). Your dentist will give you instructions for your own treatment.
Dr Drew Gibson holds a postgraduate certificate in dental sedation and pain management from UCL, and has trained other dentists to provide sedation for NHS Education for Scotland. He works with dental nurses who have completed training in inhalation and intravenous sedation.
Clinical Director, Bearsden & Boclair Dental Care
Both practices
Deputy Practice Manager and Sedation Nurse
Both practices
Head Dental Nurse and Sedation Nurse
Both practicesTo confirm: Your 2017 site mentions a visiting hypnotherapist. Is that still offered? If so, we'll add it.
To confirm: We link to NHS GGC's Lifelong Smiles videos. Happy with that?
No. Conscious sedation keeps you awake and able to respond to us, but deeply relaxed. It's different from a general anaesthetic. With IV sedation, many people remember little of the treatment afterwards.
Usually, yes, to numb the tooth. But with sedation the numbing is done once you're relaxed. If you're afraid of needles, we can use numbing cream on your hand or arm before IV sedation.
Sedation is usually for treatment. Many anxious patients manage a check-up without it, especially when they know they can stop at any time. If not, we'll talk about it.
Please call us and we'll explain the costs for your treatment before anything is booked.
We see many patients who are very anxious, and Dr Drew Gibson has a special interest in caring for them. We'll go at your pace, and sedation is available if you need it.
Phone 0141 942 8811 and just say you're nervous. We'll take it from there, at your pace.
