You want your experience at your dental appointment to be the best it can be—and your dental team wants that for you as well. Your dental treatment should not be painful, and you should be as comfortable as possible while receiving the care you need.
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/
