Many people are fearful about going to their dentist, which often results in dental anxiety, but thankfully, a sedation dentist can help solve this. As dentistry has continued to progress over the years, more people are becoming familiar with sedation dentistry, which can significantly help with dental anxiety.
Curious about how a sedation dentist can solve dental anxiety for you? Dental anxiety can be managed! In this article, we highlight what a sedation dentist can do for any fears that you have regarding a visit to the dentist.
Before understanding how a sedation dentist can solve dental anxiety, it may be first helpful to understand what exactly it is and how it affects a person who suffers from it.
Dental anxiety is a combination of fears or phobias regarding dental work, visiting the dentist and even dental procedures. Many people who experience dental anxiety often end up skipping their routine dentist appointments because they are fearful of what might happen. Most dental anxieties revolve around fear of pain, what might happen or what might be discovered during an exam, cleaning or X-ray.
Thankfully, sedation dentistry has revolutionized so much, there are sedation dentists who focus heavily on sedation services in order to make the patient feel comfortable and relaxed. Sedation dentists are specialists who may undergo extra training in the use of sedation within dentistry.
There are a couple of things that a sedation dentist can do for a patient who has dental anxiety about a dental procedure or appointment.
One of the most common forms of sedation that a sedation dentist uses for dental anxiety is laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through a mask from a tank transmits this “laughing gas” to the person’s lungs. Within a few minutes, the patient will likely feel much more relaxed and at ease.
Another common way to solve dental anxiety is through the use of oral sedation, such as medications that are taken before the procedure. A sedation dentist will typically administer this medication prior to the appointment so it has time to kick in. The patient will not likely fall asleep but they will be more comfortable, thus helping relieve some of their dental anxiety.
Dental anxiety can also be solved through the use of general anesthesia, but this is typically for more intense procedures such as surgery, tooth extraction or root canals. General anesthesia puts a person “under,” making them unconscious for their procedure and allowing for a complete solution to any dental anxiety.
Want to learn more about how a sedation dentist can help relieve you of your dental anxiety? Feel free to reach out to our office so we can help you further. Give us a call or stop by today!
Request an appointment here: https://www.petersmrecekdds.com or call Peter T. Smrecek Jr. DDS Inc. at (949) 759-8606 for an appointment in our Newport Beach office.
Seeing the dentist is a part of life. From filling cavities to orthodontic work, there are many reasons to visit the dentist. One other common dental procedure involves placing dental implants.Dental implants are free-standing replacement teeth. They mimic the entire structure of a natural tooth. The process involves placing the implant, titanium screw/threaded post, into…
Clear braces are often chosen as a low profile alternative to traditional braces but are susceptible to stains. This negates the benefit of being discreet clear braces like Invisalign®. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent and remove stains. Both the outside and inside of clear braces can become stained or warped during everyday wear. Both of…
If you have an overbite, it can be easily corrected with the use of clear aligners. Having an overbite can affect both your speech and your appearance. Plus, it can make it harder for you to chew food properly. Whether you have a severe or a mild condition, you can have it treated. With clear…
When the final goal is a straight, white smile, it is sometimes necessary to pair a method of teeth straightening with professional teeth whitening. The straightening process is only the first part of the equation for gaining a brilliant smile. Although braces work well to fix problematic misalignments, these procedures can leave the teeth stained…
Seeing the dentist is a part of life. From filling cavities to orthodontic work, there are many reasons to visit the dentist. One other common dental procedure involves placing dental implants.Dental implants are free-standing replacement teeth. They mimic the entire structure of a natural tooth. The process involves placing the implant, titanium screw/threaded post, into…
Clear braces are often chosen as a low profile alternative to traditional braces but are susceptible to stains. This negates the benefit of being discreet clear braces like Invisalign®. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent and remove stains. Both the outside and inside of clear braces can become stained or warped during everyday wear. Both of…