For many Albertans, fear or anxiety is the biggest barrier between them and a visit to the dentist. A program at the University of Alberta’s Mike Petryk School of Dentistry is helping to change that, and it is offering free basic dental care in the process.
Through the school’s IV Conscious Sedation Certification, licensed dentists complete an intensive certification in intravenous conscious sedation, a technique that allows patients to receive treatment safely and comfortably while deeply relaxed. Participating patients receive basic dental work at no cost, provided by licensed dentists under the supervision of the school’s continuing dental education program.
It is a win on both sides of the chair. Patients who might otherwise put off care because of anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or a difficult past experience get treatment in a calm, carefully monitored setting. And Alberta’s dentists gain advanced sedation skills they bring back to communities across the province, expanding access to comfortable care for anxious patients everywhere from Edmonton to Grande Prairie.
The program recently caught the attention of CTV News Edmonton, where reporter Alex Antoneshyn visited the clinic’s July training session and spoke with patients and dentists about the experience. You can watch the full story below, or read the original article on the CTV News Edmonton website.
Interested in participating? The University of Alberta accepts healthy adults 18 and older with a valid Alberta Health Care card. Applicants are screened for eligibility, and appointments are available during select sessions throughout the year. Full eligibility criteria and application details are available on the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry website.
Sedation dentistry is one of many ways Alberta’s dentists are collaborating with partners to make oral health care more accessible and more comfortable. If dental anxiety has kept you away, talk to your dentist about the options available to you.