We will be closed from 24/12 at 1pm until 26/12 and will reopen on 27/12, 30/12 and 31/12 for emergencies only. We will fully re-open on 02/01/25. If you are a Queensway patient, please call our out of hours service for urgent advice and care. Billingham/Yarm/Bishop Auckland patients call: 0770 319 6181, and Jesmond/Washington patients call: 07960234073.

Anxiety Management

Name: Queensway Dental Clinic
Telephone: 01642 554 667

A gentle dental experience for nervous patients

At Queensway Dental Clinic, we have been expertly providing conscious sedation techniques for nervous patients for over 25 years - making us pioneers in the field.

Our expertise has helped us treat over 100,000 patients at our Billingham practice alone who otherwise may not have gotten treatment because of a dental fear. If you have been nervous to visit the dentist in the past, give Queensway Dental a call so we can set your mind at ease.

Assisting with
dental anxiety

It is not uncommon to be nervous about dental visits, but it’s important to protect the health of your smile nonetheless! At Queensway Dental we provide conscious sedation options to help anxious patients feel more relaxed and at ease throughout their dental treatments.

During conscious sedation, patients remain fully conscious so we can communicate with them in a calming and supportive manner throughout the procedure. If you (or your loved one) need dental treatment, but are anxious about the visit, you can likely benefit from conscious sedation.

Who can benefit
from conscious sedation?

Conscious sedation can be beneficial for many patients, including:

Patients who have strong anxiety about dental visits
Patients with a fear of needles in their mouth
Patients who have had traumatic dental experiences in the past
Patients receiving complex treatments or oral surgery
Patients who experience difficulty getting numb with local anaesthetic
Patients who cannot open their mouth for extended periods
Patients with a strong or sensitive gag reflex
Patients with sensitive teeth
Patients who dislike the sounds, smells or sensations associated with dental care

During the free consultation for you or your loved one, we can listen to any anxieties or concerns you may have. We can then determine if conscious sedation could be beneficial, and which type of sedation is best.

Who can benefit
from conscious sedation?

Inhalation ‘happy air’
conscious sedation

Inhalation conscious sedation uses nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen to create an inhalable sedative air. This air can be breathed in through the nose via a small, soft nose hood.

Happy air is extremely safe, and doesn’t carry the risks of full sedation. You will still be conscious with happy air - it simply reduces sensations of pain and anxiety, and makes you feel a bit sleepy and at-ease.

Once we finish the procedure, the happy air should wear off within fifteen minutes, making it safe to carry on with your day.

Inhalation ‘happy air’
conscious sedation

Intravenous conscious
sedation

Our other option for conscious sedation is intravenous conscious sedation. This is most commonly used for healthy adult patients, and is delivered via a small tube in the back of the hand or arm. The sedative used is called midazolam, and we tailor the amount needed to each patient.

For patients who are anxious about needles, we sometimes advise using inhalation conscious sedation prior to intravenous conscious sedation. We can also use EMLA cream or freeze spray to numb the back of the hand in advance.

Intravenous conscious sedation usually provides a more deep sedative state than happy air, and many patients do not remember the dental procedure at all, even though they are awake. This makes this technique ideal for highly anxious patients aged 18 and over.