14 Sep How Sedation Dentistry Can Help Alleviate Anxiety
Does the thought of visiting the dentist make your feel nervous or uneasy? Sometimes, people experience severe fears of receiving dental treatment or going to dental practices. A severe fear of oral healthcare treatment is called dental phobia and phobias are a specific type of anxiety disorder.
Fortunately, our team has solutions for those with moderate to severe fears. With sedation dentistry, our guests feel relaxed and comfortable during treatment.
Symptoms of Dental Phobia
Dental phobia normally presents intense feelings of dread, doom, and fear. These feelings can be so intense that a person can have an anxiety attack.
Symptoms of an anxiety attack include irrational or “worst-case-scenario” thoughts along with increased heart and respiratory rates. Some people experience chest pains, which can be mistaken for cardiovascular problems. Most people can work through anxiety attacks by focusing on deep breathing and positive thoughts. For some, however, medication might be necessary to handle severe anxiety.
When it comes to receiving oral healthcare treatment, those with dental phobias may have such debilitating fears that they forego a visit to the dentist for years. Unfortunately, missing routine checkups and cleanings puts people at a very high risk for developing common oral health conditions like periodontal disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
Sedation Dentistry Options
People with dental phobia can find life-changing relief with sedation dentistry. Many times, receiving sedation can help lay the groundwork for creating positive associations with dental treatment to combat anxiety and phobia.
We offer two types of sedation dentistry. One is a drug-free option, nitrous oxide, and the other is called oral sedation, which involves taking prescribed medication. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is inhaled through a soft nasal mask. It takes effect quickly and provides pain-relieving and sedating benefits.
Oral sedation means that a person will receive a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication. These medications help prevent the chemical reactions associated with feelings of panic and fear. Since oral sedation has lasting effects, patients will need a ride to and from their appointments.
You don’t have to suffer with dental anxiety. Call us today to learn more about sedation dentistry.