Many patients are nervous about visiting the dentist. If fear or phobia is putting you off seeking dental treatment, you are not alone; fear of the dentist is the main reason patients in the UK give for delaying treatment, with many not visiting a dental practice for many years, until an emergency occurs. At Highfield Dental Clinic, we believe we can help.

There are lots of causes of dental anxiety, from bad experiences in the past to fear of pain, or a dislike of the sounds and smells of the dental practice. Whatever the cause of your fear, you can rest assured that at our practice you will be treated with the highest degree of care and respect at all times. We understand how crippling fear can be, and will work with you to help you get the treatment you need.

For nervous patients we offer the option of treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation, under the care of our Consultant Anaesthetist. Sedation is available for all dental procedures, from routine treatments to specialist procedures, as well as for oral surgery.

IV sedation will make you feel very relaxed and largely unaware of treatment, although you will not be asleep so will be able to cooperate with the dentist. You will remember little about your treatment and will need someone to drive you home and look after you, as the sedatives will stay in your system for a few hours after treatment is complete.

Our oral Anaesthetist trained in providing both general anaesthesia and conscious sedation. He is particularly interested in sedation for dental procedures, and has huge experience in this area. He uses a range of techniques specially tailored to suit both the individual needs of the patient and the procedure being performed.