Dental sedation clinic presents opportunity for dentists, patients alike

Dental work has never been so easy for Taneisha Picou.

Dental work has never been so easy for Taneisha Picou. Picou suffers from bad dental anxiety. But for the past two years, she’s had cleanings and fillings done during the University of Alberta’s intravenous (IV) conscious sedation certification course , a three-month program during which general dentists learn to provide sedation and anesthetics.

Because it is a training opportunity, patients receive the care for free. “You feel like you blink and then you wake up,” Picou told CTV News Edmonton on Monday, ahead of her check-up. “You feel relaxed.

It’s kind of peaceful.” It gets easier each time, as she gains confidence. “It’s a huge service for the patients, especially those who are really apprehensive with their treatments,” said Dr. Shrey Pandya, a participating dentist.

According to Dr. James Yacyshyn, a dentist and the director of continuing dental education, each dentist seeking the accreditation will treat up to 25 patients. “There’s different types of sedation: nitrous oxide, or oral sedation, or combined modalities. There’s IV, or you can see dental anesthesiologists or oral surgeons where they use deeper levels of sedation, as well,” Yacyshyn explained.

“How it works is essentially finding the right type of sedation modality for a patient’s needs.” Over the program’s 20-some years, thousands of patients have been treated. Thousands more are helped when dentists return to their communities able to offer this service, he added.

“If you can’t afford dental treatment... it affects somebody’s personality, their outlook on life and how they see themselves,” said instructor and oral surgeon Dr. Antonella Trache. Yacyshyn said the program accredits dentists from across the country and still there is a need for more, as there is “no shortage” of anxious patients. Those interested in volunteering as a patient can email the school at cde@dentistry.ualberta.ca .

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug