Did you know that a fear of going to the dentist is estimated to effect approximately 36% of the population?
Sadly, this Odontophobia all too often results in patients not getting the oral health care they need. What’s more, even if you don’t suffer from outright panic attacks at the thought of making a dental appointment, you may still suffer from the slightly less severe condition of dental anxiety. And dental anxiety, a more mild form of uneasiness with the thought of visiting the dentist, while not debilitating, can nonetheless be quite distressing. It can take its toll on both your mental health (leaving you sad, irritable, or stressed) and your physical health (leaving you with an increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure), which is to say nothing of the impact that neglecting your oral health can cause!
Rest assured, however, that if you suffer from either, you needn’t do so in silence. If you let any of our team members know that you are anxious or nervous about your appointment, we can ensure that you’ve been adequately informed of what to expect during your visit. We will also take steps to keep you comfortable while you’re here and to address any particular concerns, all in an effort to allay your fears.
And if you find you still need a little more than the comforting words of our trusted staff, we’ve got you covered. We provide the following services in our office:
- Nitrous Oxide (a.k.a., laughing gas) – a dentist administers nitrous oxide gas through a mask. The simplest of our sedation options, this requires no special measures before or after your procedure, which allows you to make the decision just beforehand if you’re feeling anxious.
- Oral sedation – You take a pill, which can be prescribed or administered at our office, one hour before your appointment. This makes most people pretty sleepy and forgetful of what has happened at the office. This option places some constraints on pre-procedure dining, and requires that you arrange for post-procedure transportation.
- IV sedation with a dental anesthesiologist – A dental anesthesiologist administers sedative drugs through an IV. This is a great option for anyone that wants to be completely unconscious during their procedure. This option also places some constraints on pre-procedure dining, and requires that you arrange for post-procedure transportation.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! And we hope to see you soon because we firmly agree with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself.” And snakes. Snakes are just creepy. Nothing without legs, wings, or fins should move that fast.
More articles
