Edmonton - Receiving dental care may not seem to be much of a gift for some, but it is for those individuals who are either low income or would not otherwise seek treatment due to a fear of needles, dentists or treatment.
More than 250 apprehensive dental patients benefited from free treatment during the U of A's School of Dentistry Intravenous (IV) Conscious Sedation course. The course put on by the Continuing Dental Education division of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is a four-part series during which practising dentists are trained to administer single-agent intravenous conscious sedation.
IV conscious sedation is most commonly administered to patients who have a fear of needles or even the dental procedure itself - giving patients the chance to get the dental treatment they need.
"I'm terrified of dentists," says Tracy Hansen who's been coming to the School during the IV sedation course for dental treatment. "Since I've been a kid I've been scared. The way the gloves smell and the sounds of the instruments, everything terrifies me."
Hansen says the general atmosphere of walking into a dentist's office scares her.
"The people here (at the School) are great. They make sure you feel comfortable and take away the fear," she said. "I would recommend anyone who has a fear of needles or the dentist to come here."
This is the only accredited professional development course of its kind offered in Canada.