But how can you make comfort a priority at your dental appointment? Fortunately, by taking a few steps, you can ensure you are relaxed and ready to have your best smile with the right dentist!

Finding the Right Dentist

The first step is to find the right dentist and practice to work with. You should feel comfortable with your dentist, but they should also answer all your questions and take the time to help you understand your options and your treatment.

Your dentist should be professional and not make you feel rushed, uncomfortable, or silly for asking questions. The best way to find the right dentist for you is to schedule a consultation with them [1]. You can visit the practice, learn more about what they offer, and get an understanding of their approach to your oral care.

Sedation Dentistry

If you experience dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can help you feel more comfortable at your appointment. Many oral care providers offer sedation dentistry to help their patients get the care they need without the stress and anxiety many people experience around a dental appointment.

Different types of sedation dentistry are used to reduce anxiety in adults and children [2]. Depending on your unique care, your options may include:

• Nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the mildest form of sedation and is inhaled. One of the benefits of nitrous oxide is that the effects wear off quickly, so you can drive yourself home afterward.
• Oral sedation. Oral sedation includes the use of medications to help manage anxiety.
  Your provider will give you a pill or pills to take when you arrive for your appointment,
  and your treatment won’t begin until the medication takes effect.
• IV sedation. IV sedation can range from semi-conscious sedation to general anesthesia. Patients who receive this type of sedation will not remember their procedure and may feel groggy afterward and need an adult with them to take them home afterward.

Discussing Options With Your Dental Team

You should always feel comfortable communicating with your dentist and your dental team. Look for a practice and a dentist that offer the patience, respect, communication, competence, and quality of service you need for your oral care [3].

Depending on your specific case, there are typically always options for your treatment. Your provider should discuss all possibilities available to you, including the pros and cons of each one. You should never feel pressured into making a decision and should always feel in control of your care.

By finding the right dentist, considering sedation dentistry, and discussing all your options with your dentist, you can make comfort a priority at your dental appointment so you can smile without worry.

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/dental-care-concerns/how-to-choose-a-dentist
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5005095/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4669916/

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Avoiding the dentist can cause irreversible harm to your teeth and gums. Don’t let these consequences impact the long-term health and beauty of your smile!

Missing Dental Appointments Means Missing the Opportunity to Catch Problems Early

Dentists are trained professionals and can identify oral health problems before you even start having symptoms. Missing your regular dental appointments means missing the opportunity to catch these problems early and prevent permanent damage to your teeth and gums.

These oral health problems include:

• Bruxism. Teeth grinding puts a lot of pressure on your teeth, causing chips, cracks, and worn tooth enamel you may not notice until significant damage has been done [1]. Your dentist, however, can identify the signs of bruxism early.
• Tooth Decay. Cavities don’t form overnight. As your tooth enamel breaks down from plaque and bacteria, the cavity can grow larger and compromise your tooth. It’s not until this point that people typically start having symptoms [2].
• Gum Disease. Gum disease starts with gum inflammation and can then progress to full- blown gum disease. Your dentist can identify the signs of gum inflammation before the condition progresses.

By avoiding the dentist, you’re at higher risk for permanent damage such as tooth loss from these conditions. Your dentist can even identify other potential health conditions simply by looking at your smile. For example, your dentist may see signs of acid reflux or even sleep apnea by examining your teeth.

Professional Teeth Cleanings Help Minimize Stains, Which Can Build Up

Avoiding the dentist and regular teeth cleanings can also cause stains to build up on your teeth. When you visit your dentist, a dental hygienist will professionally clean and polish your teeth to remove surface stains and brighten your smile.

Teeth naturally become stained over time from what we eat and drink, with berries, coffee, soy sauce, tea, wine, and tomato sauce being some of the top culprits for staining teeth. Stains can become more set-in over time, so when not removed regularly at your dentist’s office, you may need to consider further treatment to keep your teeth bright [3]. People who chew tobacco or smoke are at a higher risk for irreversible teeth staining, especially if they skip their regular dental cleanings.

Don’t Put Off Your Dental Visits

Even if you have dental anxiety, there are ways to make your next dental appointment more comfortable so you don’t have to avoid the dentist and compromise your oral health. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, don’t wait to contact your dentist to book your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bruxism/symptoms-causes/syc-
20356095
2. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay#symptoms
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321480

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Fortunately, you don’t have to let dental anxiety or dental phobia prevent you from going to
the dentist. With modern sedation options, your dentist may be able to help alleviate your
anxiety during your appointment and get the treatment you need for healthy teeth and gums!

What are your sedation options to help stop dental anxiety when it comes to seeing your
dentist?

Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, often referred to as laughing gas, is an inhaled substance that’s used to stop the patient from experiencing pain and anxiety during a procedure.

While inhaling nitrous oxide, you won’t be asleep, but you won’t feel anxious either. Laughing gas is considered to be safe and is used at the majority of dental practices. Nitrous oxide is considered a non-invasive form of sedation as you’ll simply breathe it in through a mask.

The effects of this form of dental sedation are short-lived and you can drive yourself home from the appointment without any lasting effects.

Moderate Sedation: Oral Sedation

If you’d like to be a bit more sedated due to your dental fear or anxiety, you may want to ask your dentist about oral sedation.

During this form of sedation, you’ll be prescribed a pill or a liquid that you’ll take before your appointment. You will need someone to drive you to and from the appointment, but the idea is that you’ll arrive to your appointment relaxed and worry-free.

You may receive other forms of sedation during your treatment as needed to control pain or anxiety, but many people find that this form of conscious sedation helps them to visit their dentist without fear.

Moderate to Heavy Sedation: IV Sedation

Receiving a heavier form of sedation is possible at your dentist’s office with IV sedation, in
which the sedative will be administered directly into your vein for an instantaneous effect.

IV sedation is considered a moderate to heavy form of sedation in which you’ll still be awake and aware, but may feel as though you are asleep. This type of sedation is often used for shorter dental procedures.

As with oral sedation, you will require someone to drive you home from the appointment and may need a bit of time to recover from the sedative following your procedure.

Deep Sedation: General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is the deepest form of sedation you can receive. You’ll essentially be asleep for your entire procedure and may not even recall the procedure. Your dentist or oral surgeon will administer this sedative through an IV.

The effects of general anesthesia have the potential to affect you for hours after your
appointment, so it’s important to plan for this as well as to plan for someone to be waiting for you at the office to take you home.

General anesthesia is typically only considered for dental patients who need oral surgery or for people who for one reason or another do not qualify for other forms of sedation dentistry.

Have you been suffering from dental anxiety or dental phobia and let it prevent you from going to the dentist? You have options for receiving sedation dentistry to get the care you need, even if it’s just a professional teeth cleaning. Talk with your dentist about your sedation options to help alleviate your fear and anxiety at the dentist!

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How can the right dentist help you overcome your dental phobia?

Schedule a Meeting

It’s important to find a dentist you can trust and communicate with regarding your dental
phobia. Find a dentist who cares and is sensitive to your needs and understands that everyone
tolerates pain differently.

Schedule a meeting with a potential dentist to see how you feel about them. This meeting
won’t necessarily be a consultation, it’s just a meeting—tell yourself that you are not going to
get any dental work done, just talk to the dentist to see how you feel about potentially moving
forward.

Review Techniques to Help You Feel More in Control

Once you find a dentist that you like and decide you want to pursue treatment with, you and
your dentist can discuss utilizing techniques to help you feel more in control of your experience
in the dentist’s chair.

One of these techniques is having the dentist explain the procedure to you in detail. This
explanation includes exactly what will happen and even showing you different tools that will be
used and explaining to you their purpose and how long they will be used for and what you can
expect to feel.

You and your dentist can also agree on a signal that you can use when you need a break during
the procedure. Some patients also find it helpful to use headphones to listen to familiar and
relaxing music during the procedure to help them feel calmer.

Consider Sedation Dentistry

If you find that you’re still uncomfortable with the idea of going to the dentist for any type of
treatment, it may be beneficial to find a dentist who utilizes sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is designed specifically for people who experience dental anxiety or dental phobia to help them relax to their comfort level while at the dentist. Many dentists use sedation dentistry to help patients with legitimate fears of the dentist to receive the care that they need.

Your dentist can customize your level of sedation, from lightly relaxed to completely asleep
(general anesthesia). Talking with your dentist about the different types of sedation dentistry
can help you choose the right one for the procedure you need.

If you’re not able to even speak to a dentist or schedule a meeting, it might be helpful to first
seek the help of a counselor or therapist who can talk with you about your fears and work with
you to overcome them.

Dental phobia doesn’t have to stop you from getting your smile taken care of. You have options to overcome your dental phobia to help your smile stay healthy. You can begin by scheduling a meeting with a dentist, or maybe your first step is to speak with a counselor. Dental phobia gets easier once you begin addressing your fears!

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What Procedures It’s Used In

Laughing gas can be used for any procedure in which the patient feels anxious, has a gag reflex that may prevent dental care, a patient who cannot receive other forms of anesthesia, or children who can’t tolerate dental procedures, such as those with special needs.

Does Laughing Gas Cause Adverse Reactions?

Although reactions from laughing gas are rare, they can happen in some patients. They usually are the result of too much laughing gas or from the gas being inhaled too rapidly. Patients who have reactions may get headaches, feel cold or hot, feel nauseous or need to vomit, or be very tired. Your dentist will ensure you receive the right amount of laughing gas to be comfortable for your procedure.

How Laughing Gas Works

Your dentist will place a small mask—sometimes called a clown nose—over your nose and have you breathe normally through your nose. You will not fall asleep and will still be able to speak with the dentist and respond to questions.

Laughing gas usually takes a few minutes to take effect and the effects begin to wear off as soon as the mask is removed. Once the gas is discontinued, you’ll receive oxygen for about five minutes to help you avoid a headache later. Oxygen also helps to fully get rid of the gas once the effects wear off and your procedure is done!

How Should You Prepare for Laughing Gas?

You should have something on your stomach before your procedure, but eating a big meal isn’t recommended before or after the procedure. You should talk to your dentist about when it’s ok for you to eat or drive following the procedure.

Laughing Gas and Children

Laughing gas is safe for children and is actually the most commonly used form of sedation dentistry for kids. It can be very helpful in relaxing children for procedures that would otherwise be frightening or painful.

Who Should Not Receive Laughing Gas?

Women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a history of substance abuse or mental health concerns should speak with their dentist prior to the procedure about whether or not nitrous oxide will be safe for them to have.

Laughing gas is always used for relatively short procedures and can help keep you relaxed and still while relieving any anxiety you may have. Laughing gas has many advantages as a form of sedation—you can talk with your dentist about whether or not laughing gas would be a good fit for your dental procedure or a dental procedure for your child that requires anesthesia.

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Nitrous Oxide: Minimal Sedation

You may know this gas by its more common name, laughing gas. This is the lightest level of sedation and the only one in which you should be able to drive home after your appointment. Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a mask that your dentist puts on your nose. As nitrous oxide has a short-term effect, you’ll feel relatively normal soon after the procedure.

Oral Sedation: From Mild to Moderate

Oral sedation is totally customizable—you and your dentist can discuss which level of sedation would be best to help relieve your dental anxiety. For this type of sedation, you’ll usually swallow a pill about an hour or so before your dental procedure. While you may become drowsy, you will still be awake and be able to respond. This is one of the most common sedation dentistry methods used as the dose can be adjusted for mild to moderate sedation.

IV Sedation: Moderate Sedation

For IV sedation, you’ll receive your sedation through an IV. This will allow the drug to quickly relax you before your procedure. This is not the same as general anesthesia, in which you would be totally unconscious during the procedure. During an IV sedation, you are still partially awake and able to respond to commands or stimuli. This is for people who don’t respond well to oral sedation or would like a quicker method of relaxation rather than waiting for a medication to work.

General Anesthesia: Deep Sedation

General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation in which you will be totally unconscious during the dental procedure. You will not be able to respond to commands or be roused from your state. General anesthesia requires that your breathing and heart rate be monitored, as this deep level of sedation affects these most basic functions. This form of sedation may be used if you need a lot of dental work, cannot relax even with the other methods of sedation, or if you need oral surgery.

Sedation dentistry makes going to the dentist easier for people who suffer from dental anxiety. It can enable patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years to get the much needed treatment they need without the fear and anxiety of pain. It’s important to find a dentist who’s experienced in sedation dentistry and understands your fears and concerns. Find a local dentist who can offer sedation dentistry to relieve your dental anxiety so that you can enjoy your smile again!

Image courtesy of stockimages at freedigitalimages.net

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Feeling some nervousness before going to the dentist is normal for both kids and adults, but there are things you can do to help your child overcome their dental anxiety!

Start Early

The American Dental Association recommends that children be seen on or around the time that their first tooth comes in. This is around age six months old! This is a great time to get your child used to the dentist and be familiar with the surroundings and environment of the dentist office. As your child grows up and receives regular checkups, he or she will become familiar with the dentist—the earlier you can start taking your child to the dentist, the less anxiety he or she will experience.

Leave It to the Experts

When talking to your child about the dentist, never tell your child that pain will be involved or insinuate that it will hurt. Leave the explaining of the procedures that will be done to the experts. Dentists who see children know how to communicate with them on an age-appropriate level about what will happen and the tools that are used in the dentist’s office. All you need to tell your child is that the dentist and the staff will be nice and gentle with their teeth and gums!

Relax!

Children are often much more perceptive than we give them credit for and can sense your tension. If you’re worried or anxious about taking them to the dentist, then they will be worried and anxious as well. Instead, remain calm and know that your child will be seen by professionals who are experts at communicating with children and cleaning their teeth. Keep your stress and tension in check before you reassure your child. Relax!

Be Understanding

It’s normal for children to experience some anxiety, so be understanding. Let your child know that it’s alright to feel anxious and scared. Talk with them about what their fears are and do your best to let them know that the dentists will be accommodating and caring. The more understanding you are about your child’s dental anxiety, the less anxious they’ll feel!

Choosing the Right Dentist

It’s important to choose a dentist who is experienced in treating children and who has a child-friendly practice. Many dentists offer special sunglasses, movie choices, and toys to help children feel more at home and relaxed in the practice. Look in your area and visit the office with your child to see how you both like it.

Your child doesn’t have to feel anxious about seeing the dentist— by following these tips, you can help your child to overcome their dental anxiety. Remember that the earlier they see the dentist the better, and always let your dentist explain the procedures. Reassure your child, but relax yourself! And pick a dentist that makes you both feel right at home.

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Sedation Dentistry

If you’re anxious about visiting the dentist, talk with your dentist’s office about sedation dentistry before your visit. Sedation dentistry is the practice of using medication to help you relax during your visit. There are several types of sedation, depending upon your anxiety level as well as your preference. You may opt to be minimally sedated, meaning you’ll still be awake and aware, yet relaxed. If the thought of still being aware during the procedure makes you anxious, you may choose to be moderately sedated, in which you’ll still be conscious, but likely not remember the procedure.

If you want to be even further sedated, you could ask your dentist for a deep sedation, in which you’ll be barely conscious, or finally, just have general anesthesia done, in which you’re completely unconscious. Most dentist offices offer sedation dentistry and you’ll need to confirm and ask what types will be available to you on the day of your visit.

Advanced Technology

When was the last time you went to the dentist? If it’s been a little while, remember that modern technology has changed the field of dentistry and the dentist today likely isn’t the dentist of your childhood memories. Most of the tools the dentists use are quiet, small, and minimally invasive. Technology makes many dental procedures less invasive, such as laser treatments and quiet drills. Nearly any treatment offered by your dentist now is able to be completely pain-free! It’s always important to voice your fears to your dentist or dentist office before treatment so that your appointment will be comfortable and painless for you.

Finding the Right Dentist

Remember that while dental appointments and dental work might make you anxious, the longer you put off treatment, the more work you’ll need and the worse your oral health will be. So while it’s challenging to visit a dentist while you have anxiety, you can start by looking for the right dentist to help you. The right dentist will be someone who’s caring and compassionate, especially in regards to your dental anxiety. You might start by asking your friends and family for recommendations: dental anxiety is very common, and some people might be able to recommend a dentist they’ve had positive experiences with even with dental anxiety. There are plenty of dentists out there who see patients with dental anxiety all the time—you just have to find a dentist that you’re confident will fit your needs.

Take the time to visit different dentist offices, talk to the receptionists, ask about sedation dentistry, and even meet the dentist. Don’t delay your dental appointments because of your anxiety—remember that you can find the best dentist for you with a little research, and sedation dentistry and technology can help make your appointment worry-free!

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Sedation dentistry is not for everyone. If you tolerate your dental appointments without a great degree of anxiety, you are probably best off without sedation. Sedation is a good option for people who have severe anxiety during dental appointments. Do you have anxiety from worrying about a dental visit several days before it happens? Do you have physical signs of nervousness related to seeing the dentist like shaking, nausea or vomiting? Do you cancel dental appointments because you can’t face them? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, sedation dentistry may be right for you.

There are different levels of sedation, starting with mild sedation that can be accomplished with oral medications. These help you relax and feel calm, but they do not cause you to fall asleep. Moderate forms of sedation can make you drowsy, but you stay awake and are very relaxed. The most common form of sedation used in dentistry is nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The advantage of nitrous oxide over other forms of sedation is that the effects wear off very quickly, so it is usually not necessary to bring someone along to drive you home after your appointment.

Deeper forms of sedation that are used for surgical procedures are administered intravenously. For patients who want to conquer fear and anxiety, moderate sedation such as nitrous oxide is usually enough.

You can call for an appointment to discuss sedation dentistry and the different forms of sedation that are available. Some people have health issues that could interfere with sedation or create risks when using it. Before you go into the office for a consultation, be sure that you have up-to-date information on your health and your health history.

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There are as many as 75% of people in the United States who have some type of fear of the dentist. This might not be a full blown phobia, but there is still a real fear of being in the dental chair. Many will avoid going to the dentist at any cost, often to the despair of their teeth and gums. Some will only go when they have an emergency, such as an infection in the mouth or pain from a toothache. Some are merely too afraid of the unknown.

While we can understand that this fear of the unknown or past experience is valid, we also are resolute that the dentist can be a wonderful experience. With the onset of new technology and the friendly, welcoming smiles of your neighborhood office, a visit to the dentist is a part of a routine to look forward to. If nerves still have you feeling anxious, we are here to help. Communication is the beginning! Some dentists will provide sedatives to relax the patient before a procedure, but behavioral techniques can also help. You may speak to a counselor or your personal dentist about the fear to determine the root of the problem. If this anxiety is prominent in your little ones, one of the best ways to help ease the fear is to have them look at the work that the dentist does in the office. Many dentists will let people watch as they clean teeth and get a real “behind the scenes” experience. They will also let people look at the instruments and listen to them so that they know what to expect before any procedures are done.

Dentophobia is very real, but that does not mean that it must persist. Speaking with a dentist about your reservations is key to unlocking the root of the fear and letting your dentist assist you. With our new technologies and relaxing methods, we are here to stand beside you and make your experience purely positive! Visiting your dental office no longer needs to be an area of avoidance, but rather an appointment both you and your smile can look forward to.

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