Sedation Dentistry
How to Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist
An Informative Pep Talk About Dental Care
Does thinking about making your next dental appointment make you nervous? If it does, you’re not alone. According to a recent study released by Colgate, 9 to 15 percent of people in the United States steer clear of the dentist due to fear of discomfort or pain. While those percentages may seem small, they represent approximately 30 to 40 million people who fear dental work.
It’s important to keep in mind that when you avoid necessary dental treatment, it’s not just your pearly whites that suffer. When you make sure to take care of your oral health, your quality of life and overall health improves. Happy Teeth = Happy Life!
Thankfully, we live in a time in which comfort and customer experience are of the highest importance. A visit to the dentist can and should be enjoyed, not just suffered through.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to your visit to the dentist, you’ve got options.
Everyone is there to serve you and help you better care for your health and happiness, not to cause you unnecessary discomfort. So what are these options? I’m so glad you asked…
Mission Dental provides a calming environment with pillows and warm blankets, as well as friendly staff. You’re not there to be tortured, but to be cared for.
Some patient amenities include televisions that transport you to you into your favorite film, a snack bar to distract you from any nervousness you may be feeling, and comfortable seating to make you feel right at home.
Still not convinced?If that lovely list of distractions isn’t enough to calm your troubled heart, then you can ask to learn more about something called… Sedation Dentistry in Nashville.
Sedation Dentistry
For those whose anxiety is particularly high when it comes to dental work, there’s something a little stronger than calming music and comfy seating.
You can choose different forms of sedation methods to calm your body and dull the discomfort of your dental experience. Some of these options include laughing gas, “nitrous oxide”, and oral sedation.
These forms of general anesthesia are given by those who have been specially trained to perform sedation.
These methods won’t knock you out or cause you to lose consciousness. They simply help to bring your body into a calm and relaxed state while the dental procedures are performed.
In order to find the best sedation options for you, talk to your dentist about your current levels of anxiety, your medical history, and what kind of procedures you’re in need of.
Some common forms of medication used to calm your anxiety include medications such as Ativan, Xanax, and Valium. These are forms of moderate sedation and are prescribed frequently because of their effectiveness and safety.
While many of these forms of sedation don’t fall under the category of deep sedation, it’s still often necessary to make sure someone can come and help you home afterwards because of some of the common side effects. These include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, slow reflexes, and headaches. It’s also not uncommon to forget the dental procedure altogether, even though you were awake the entire time.
Going to the dentist can be a vulnerable and scary experience, but the good news is, it doesn’t have to be! Take a look at the many options available to you and make the wise decision to take care of your dental health and live a happier and healthier life. You’ve got this. Contact us today!