Dealing with Dental Anxiety: How to Relax in the Dentist’s Chair
What kind of reaction do you have when you hear the words “dental appointment”? While some people enjoy having their teeth cleaned to maintain a healthy smile, many others have a great deal of apprehension about the dentist. If you experience anxiety or even fear of the dentist when it’s time for your twice-a-year visit, you aren’t alone. According to the National Institute of Health, as much as 15% of the world population has some form of dental fear or anxiety, which is especially concerning when people begin to avoid getting the care they need out of fear. So what exactly is extreme dental anxiety, and what can you do about it?
Understanding Your Fear of the Dentist
An important distinction to make is between dental anxiety and dentophobia. Those who suffer from dental anxiety have realistic concerns about their appointment, while those suffering from dentophobia tend to experience far more intense and sometimes irrational fear surrounding their dental care. People experiencing intense fear of the dentist may avoid getting care even if they are in a great deal of pain, despite being aware that their fears are irrational. Far more common than severe dentophobia, dental anxiety doesn’t often keep patients from getting treatment.
A Trip to The Dentist for Anxiety Patients
Even if your nerves don’t keep you from getting care, it doesn’t mean that the symptoms of extreme dental anxiety aren’t serious. This general fear or stress related to oral treatments, cleanings, and operations can cause a great deal of distress leading up to and during a visit. People who experience dental anxiety may experience a lack of sleep, excess sweating, heart palpitations, and even nausea as a result of a dental appointment. This condition can be caused by past experiences at the dentist, fear of medical settings, pain caused by procedures, or even discomfort with having someone in your personal space. Whatever the cause, there are ways to deal with dental anxiety and receive painless dental care so that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
What is Sedation Dentistry and How Can it Help?
Dentists who offer sedation are particularly popular among patients who have anxiety caused by previous dental experiences, as it helps to alleviate their fears. One of the many things that sets Brightwork Family Dentistry apart is our specialty in sedation dentistry. Sedatives can be administered orally or with nitrous oxide to provide painless dental care. Depending on your level of anxiety, the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Brightwork Family Dentistry will recommend one of these combinations to allow you to get the care you need while relieving the stress caused by dental anxiety.
Types of Dental Sedation
Brightwork offers several options for this solution to anxiety, from mild types of dental sedation to general anesthesia. Brightwork’s levels of sedation are minimal and moderate anesthesia, which are nitrous oxide and halcion. Minimal sedation will allow you to remain conscious while feeling completely relaxed during your visit. This is typically nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas.” Moderate sedation is also conscious sedation, though you may not remember the visit, usually given in the form of oral sedatives. Deep sedation is an even heavier level of sedation where you remain barely conscious, a type of dental sedation that is delivered in an IV through the vein. Lastly, used for extensive procedures, general anesthesia puts you into an entirely unconscious state.
If you experience dental anxiety or fear, contact Dr. Benjamin Crowley or Dr. Diane Iachini at Brightwork Family Dentistry, Richmond’s sedation dentistry practice, for a consultation. We will make a plan to keep your smile healthy while easing your nerves and helping you learn how to relax in the dentist’s chair at your next visit!
