Anxiety or fear around dental appointments is very common, and it can prevent you from getting the dental care you need. Our Courtenay dentists explain what options are available to help you overcome your worries.
What is Dental Anxiety?
If you think you might be experiencing dental anxiety, you are not alone.
Dental anxiety is defined as when a patient feels a sense of uneasiness about their upcoming dental appointments. Patients may experience exaggerated worries including the fear of needles, the fear of drilling, the fear of pain and, embarrassment about bad teeth.
Some individuals report dental anxiety as feeling completely overwhelming, making it difficult or impossible to undergo needed dental treatments. Because regular dental check-ups are essential to helping prevent tooth decay and the need for more complex treatments in the future, it is the recommendation of our Courtenay dentists that they should not be avoided.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, there is a variety of options that can help you overcome your fears and worries, and help you to feel more relaxed in the dentist’s chair.
Medications for Sedation
Sedatives can be used during dental procedures to calm anxiety around your visit. Common sedative medications used in dentistry include nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation.
Most sedatives can be taken orally, which means no injections are needed. Some sedatives work so effectively that patients may not even recall the details of the procedure afterwards.
Laser Therapy
Lasers can also be used in dentistry as a minimally invasive treatment option. Lasers are extremely precise and can minimize trauma, bleeding and swelling in the area of your mouth being treated.
Overall, they allow your dentist to perform a procedure with less pain, fewer shots and less need for anesthesia, giving you a lot less to worry about right off the bat.
Choosing the Right Dentist
Finding the right dentist can also help to ease dental anxiety, giving you a more comfortable dental experience.
Be sure to look for a dental clinic that understands how difficult dental anxiety can be and is willing to work with you to help manage your concerns before, during and after your treatment.
Most dentists will work at your pace, answer your questions, and take breaks if you need them.