Sedation and sleep dentistry for anxious patients and surgical dental care done kindly and comfortably in the chair xo
Dental Sedation for Surgical and Implant Dentistry on the Sunshine Coast.
If dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or the thought of needles for a surgical procedure has been holding you back, dental sedation may help make the treatment more manageable. At XO Smiles at Buddina, Dr Christine May offers sedation options for suitable patients, with care tailored to your procedure, health history and comfort needs.
Three sedation options are offered at XO Smiles: happy gas, oral sedation, or IV twilight sedation.
An in-person or video consult with Dr Christine May is required before the surgical procedure is scheduled to assess suitability, explain your options and select the most appropriate type of sedation for your needs.
Consults from $150*.
*Before any health fund rebates are applied - your out-of-pocket gap payment may be far less!
Treatment completed by a female Surgical Dentist with post-graduate Oral & Implant Surgery degrees
.
25 years dentistry experience
.
Hundreds of successful cases
.
Located at Kawana Dental
.
Treatment completed by a female Surgical Dentist with post-graduate Oral & Implant Surgery degrees . 25 years dentistry experience . Hundreds of successful cases . Located at Kawana Dental .
You may benefit from sedation or sleep dentistry
Dental sedation is also commonly called happy gas, sleep dentistry, or twilight sedation, depending on the type of sedation used. It may be helpful for people who feel nervous about dental treatment, or have had a difficult past dental experience:
People with dental anxiety
People having wisdom teeth removed
People undergoing implant surgery
Longer procedures in the dental chair
People with a strong gag reflex
People who want a more relaxed treatment experience
Dental sedation options available for your comfort at XO Smiles
We offer minimal and conscious sedation options depending on the procedure, your age, your medical history and the level of support you may need before and after treatment.
Happy gas aka nitrous oxide
What is it: Light inhalation sedation administered by the dentist that helps you feel more relaxed while remaining awake and responsive.
May suit: Children and adults having shorter appointments.
You’ll need: clear nasal breathing.
After treatment: minimal after effects. Adults can usually drive home.
Typical use: 15-60 minute procedures.
Indicative cost: From about $95-$200 before rebates.
Oral sedation with lorazepam
What is it: A dentist-prescribed sedative tablet to help you feel calmer during treatment. It may suit teens and adults who want a deeper level of relaxation than happy gas.
May suit: Patients 13 years or older who want deeper relaxation than happy gas.
Benefits: No nasal breathing equipment required.
After treatment: You must have an escort and avoid driving for 24 hours.
Typical use: 30-90 minute procedures.
Indicative cost: Tablet cost is around $10.
IV aka twilight sedation
What is it: a deeper form of conscious sedation administered by a qualified sedation provider. It’s designed for suitable patients having more involved or anxiety-provoking treatment. You remain breathing on your own, but most patients feel very drowsy and remember little afterwards.
May suit: Suitable patients 16 years or older having surgical or longer appointments.
Benefits: deeper relaxation, no intubation, quicker recovery than a general anaesthetic.
After treatment: You must have an escort and avoid driving for 24 hours.
Typical use: 15-150 minute procedures.
Indicative cost: Around $750 per hour before rebates.
What you need to know about twilight sedation vs general anaesthesia
At XO Smiles, treatment under general anaesthesia (GA) is not performed. For people requiring hospital-based care, a referral to an appropriate dental specialist with hospital access can be arranged.
For many suitable patients, IV twilight sedation can provide a more comfortable in-chair, cost-effective alternative to hospital-based anaesthesia, without intubation or the need for specialist referral.
-
Conscious sedation
No intubation
In-chair at dental practice
Faster recovery than GA for suitable patients
Administered by a medical anaesthetist or dental sedationist
Less expensive
-
Fully unconscious
Hospital-based
Different risk and recovery profile
Referral required if needed
Administered by a medical anaesthetist
More expensive
Get your free guide to preparing well for dental sedation xo
No obligation. No hassle. No cost.
Share your contact details via the link below, and we’ll send you our complimentary guide to the different kinds of dental sedation, what to expect, and how to best prepare and recover from the experience smoothly.
All surgical dental procedures under sedation completed by Dr Christine May @ Kawana Dental
Christine has been practising as a general dentist for over 25 years across Australia. She has completed the following tertiary qualifications, giving her advanced skills and experience in wisdom teeth removals, surgical and implant dentistry:
Masters in Oral Surgery from Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld
Post-Graduate Diploma in Oral Implants from the Australasian Academy of Dental Practitioners, Sydney, NSW
Bachelors in Dental Surgery with Honours from Sydney University, NSW
Bachelors in Health Science (Traditional Chinese Medicine) from the University of Technology Sydney, NSW
What to expect from a dental sedation consult with Dr Christine May
Introduction to each other
Review of medical history
Discussion of anxiety level and procedure
Sedation suitability assessment
Sedation plan tailored to your needs
Pre-op instructions and information
Escort, fasting and recovery planning guidance
Frequently asked questions about dental sedation
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQs or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and book a consult with Dr Christine May today.
-
We offer happy gas, oral sedation and IV twilight sedation for suitable patients at XO Smiles @ Kawana Dental, Buddina.
-
Twilight sedation is a deeper form of conscious sedation that helps suitable patients feel very relaxed during treatment while continuing to breathe on their own.
-
Eat a solid meal 2-3 hours before your appointment, so you’ve got enough fuel in your system to last until the numbness wears off afterwards.
Avoid eating within 2 hours before your appointment, to avoid feeling nausea.
Be prepared with home care supplies like ice packs, over-the-counter pain relief tablets like paracetamol and ibuprofen, along with soft, easy to swallow food to eat for several days.
-
Adults can usually drive home after happy gas, but you shouldn’t drive for 24 hours after oral sedation or IV twilight sedation. Explore the dental sedation options on this page.
-
Yes, an escort is required for oral sedation and IV twilight sedation, along with children receiving happy gas.
-
Costs vary depending on the type of sedation and the length of the dental procedure.
An initial consultation is required for $150.
Happy gas is available for about $95 - $200 per appointment.
Oral sedation tablets cost around $10 from a pharmacy with a script.
IV twilight sedation costs about $750 per hour.
-
Yes, sedation is available for wisdom teeth extractions and other surgical dental procedures, depending on your suitability.
-
Yes, sedation is available for dental implant treatment and other surgical dental procedures, depending on your suitability.