Do you have a fear of the dentist’s office? Do the sounds or smells or bright lights make you nervous?
You are not alone. According to a survey study conducted by DentaVox, around 61 percent of respondents claimed that they were suffering from some degree of dental anxiety. That is a majority of people saying that the dentist scares them.
The major problem with dental fear is that it can stop you from receiving important healthcare. So what is the fix? Many dentists now employ sedation tactics to make the dental process as smooth as possible. Dentist offices may never be your favorite place, but a good dentist and the right sedation method can make it a less scary one.
Why are people afraid of the dentist?
There are many reasons why someone might have a fear of the dentist. Perhaps you have never been to the dentist so your fear might be rooted in the unknown nature of the place. Also, since the dentist is a medical environment, you could just have generalized anxiety when it comes to doctors that carries over into tooth care professionals and spaces.
Some of the major triggers mentioned by the DentaVox study were potential pain, chemical smells, and the sound of drilling. Some smaller fears included the dental environment and the potential bill for services.
All of these fears are valid. No dentist should ever make you feel that you are wrong for being scared. Their job is to make this necessary process of teeth cleaning and procedures as easy, painless, and quick as possible. Dentists are here to help and will make your visits very doable.
One way they increase your comfort in the dental chair is through sedation dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry and how does it work?
Sedation Dentistry is the process by which patients are relaxed for dental work through the use of various medications. This process greatly reduces dental anxiety and the process varies depending on the particular severity of the fear.
Oral sedation is a common method where patients swallow a pill before the appointment that puts them in a state that reduces anxiety. Depending on the pill used, you might remember just a few details about the dental work you had done.
You may also achieve this moderate sedation level via inhaled sedation. Through this method, you breathe in a gas that helps you relax and get through your appointment.
For longer procedures or for those with severe dental anxiety, another method used is IV sedation. This involved the use of IV administered sedatives via a needle. The value of this type of sedation is that the medication can start working sooner and it can be adjusted throughout the entire visit or procedure.
For the toughest cases of dental anxiety, your dentist might offer complete general anesthesia which involves being completely unconscious and unaware of what is happening.
No matter what type you end up using, it is likely that your dentist will also administer a local anesthetic (like lidocaine) if the procedure might cause mouth pain. As you can see, dental technology has come a long way in order to make even the most fearful individuals comfortable enough so that they can enjoy healthy teeth.
How does Devaney Dentistry use Sedation?
Here at Devaney Dentistry, we want you to be as comfortable as possible. We believe that everyone is entitled to good dental care and good dentists will make the visit as easy and comfortable as they can.
To that end, IV sedation in our Greensboro and Oak Ridge offices keeps you calm. We use IV sedation because we believe it is the best method for a few reasons. IV sedation is more consistent and works quicker than oral methods. Also, we can control the amount of sedative you get which is perfect for ongoing use during the visit. And finally, we use this IV method because, in our experience, it just works so much better at controlling dental anxiety than oral methods.
Here at Devaney Dental, we are here for you. We understand that there are various reasons why you might fear the dentist. We strive to help you manage your fear and enjoy healthy teeth for years to come. Our compassionate and professional staff will always hear you out and develop a course of action that will keep your anxiety to a minimum.
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