For some people with dental anxiety, they’re still able to receive dental treatment even with their fears, but may not be comfortable during their appointment. For others, dental anxiety may prevent them from going to the dentist at all.

What can be done about dental anxiety? Many dentists today are offering oral sedation as a way to help patients feel less anxious and more comfortable at the dentist office.

What Is Oral Sedation in Dentistry?

Oral sedation in dentistry uses medication to help patients relax and experience less anxiety during their appointment. During oral sedation, you’ll still be conscious and able to communicate, you’ll just feel more relaxed [1].

Here’s how it works: your dentist will prescribe an oral medication that you’ll take either before your appointment at home or at the dentist office upon your arrival. Once the medication takes effect, you’ll continue with your procedure.

You’ll need to arrange for someone to bring you to and from your appointment, and the effects of the medication should be gone by the following day. Your dentist will let you know more about what to expect based on your specific medication and procedure.

Patients Who May Qualify for Oral Sedation

Generally, any patient who experiences dental anxiety will be considered for oral sedation. A variety of factors are taken into account when it comes to oral sedation in dentistry, including the procedure to be done, your level of anxiety, and your health [2].

Before scheduling a procedure with oral sedation, your dentist will evaluate whether or not you qualify and review the next steps for moving forward with you.

Benefits of Oral Sedation for Patients with Dental Anxiety

From a regular teeth cleaning to a more involved procedure, oral sedation can help patients who have a range of anxiety levels get the treatment they need without the worry.

Oral sedation is considered to be safe and effective [3]. For patients who experience distress about their dental visit, medication can help create a more positive experience which can make patients with dental anxiety more likely to return for future treatments.

Patients with dental anxiety who take advantage of oral sedation can also have numerous procedures completed in one visit. For instance, getting a teeth cleaning and a cavity filled at the same time can make it easier for patients instead of returning for numerous appointments which can potentially increase their anxiety.

Don’t Let Anxiety Keep You from Visiting the Dentist

If you suffer from dental anxiety, you don’t have to let your stress stop you from having the smile you’ve always wanted. Consider looking for a dentist who offers oral sedation options for your next procedure and schedule a consultation. You might just be surprised how much oral sedation can improve your experience at your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6327823/
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/anesthesia-and-sedation
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1993866/

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However, it’s understandable that some patients would want to avoid dental anesthesia. Many patients would prefer to avoid having an anesthetic injected into their mouth while some patients are worried about the possibility of a reaction to the anesthesia or being “put under” for a procedure.

Are there alternatives to dental anesthesia? Thanks to modern medicine, there are ways you can receive the treatment you need, pain-free!

Dental Lasers

Dental lasers have traditionally only been used for soft tissue in the oral cavity but can now be used for harder tissue as well. Dental lasers are quiet, do not require anesthesia, and do not cause pain, which helps to alleviate the anxiety many patients feel at having to have their mouth exposed to needles, drills, and other tools.

Lasers also help make dental procedures more effective. Your dentist can work quickly and efficiently to complete your procedure without worrying about your anesthesia wearing off or controlling bleeding. Lasers can help to prepare a tooth for a filling, can be used to reshape gum tissue, and much more.

Dental lasers are rapidly becoming a staple at dental offices in place of traditional anesthesia and are transforming dentistry as well as patient experience at the dentist office.

Electronic Anesthesia

Electronic anesthesia, commonly referred to as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), a specific form of electronic anesthesia, helps patients to control their pain at the dentist office.

TENS consists of pads that are placed on the outside of your mouth as close as possible to the area that is receiving the dental treatment. These stimulation pads deliver an electrical current that’s controlled by you—you control the amount of stimulation you receive using a device you hold in your hand.

The voltage is very low and provides the benefit of avoiding the risk of reaction to anesthesia, avoiding injections, and also avoiding any side effects—after the pads are removed and the procedure is complete, you can return home with no lasting effects.

Electronic anesthesia helps stop nerves from signaling to the brain that the body is in pain. This procedure is helping patients to take control of their pain management in the dentist’s chair and alleviating the need for traditional anesthesia.

When it comes to receiving anesthesia at the dentist’s office, you aren’t limited to managing your pain in a specific way. Many dental practices are now offering innovative and advanced techniques to help you receive the treatment you need with as little discomfort as possible. Ask your dentist about their experience with lasers or electronic anesthesia to receive the treatment you need for your smile!

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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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Laser Dentistry Defined

Laser dentistry involves a laser—a very focused, intense beam of light—that can be focused in certain areas of your mouth. Laser dentistry is safe when practiced by a dentist who has sufficient experience in laser dentistry, so ask your dentist about his or her experience and credentials when you’re considering laser dentistry treatment. This beam of light is controlled by a machine, and you’ll be asked to wear eye protection while the treatment is underway. The laser causes a reaction in the tissues, whether they be hard or soft, that it is directed at. What are some of the common procedures that are accomplished with laser dentistry?

Procedures Laser Dentistry Is Used For

Laser dentistry can help with a variety of procedures. It can help with the treatment of gum disease by removing infected gum tissue and minimizing healing time for the patient. The laser is also able to remove gum tissue that is affecting wisdom teeth removal, or erupted wisdom teeth. In addition, people who have teeth that are covered by gums, sometimes called a “gummy” smile, can benefit from laser dentistry, as the laser can be used to remove the gum tissue that’s covering the teeth. Laser dentistry may also help with muscle attachment in the mouth or jaw that may be hindering speech for children. It can remove tumors, assist with treatment of TMJ by helping with jaw inflammation, and even help with teeth whitening procedures! The applications that laser dentistry can be used for are very versatile.

Patients Who May Benefit from Laser Dentistry

Patients who may be anxious about their dental treatment can be good candidates for laser dentistry. Your treatment may not require stitches or anesthesia, due to the fact that laser dentistry is relatively painless and minimizes the affected area in your mouth. There’s also decreased bleeding and risk for infection, because the laser will only be pointed at the area needing treatment. This means faster healing time for you! Laser dentistry can help ease anxieties and fears about receiving treatment when the treatment will be minimal and there’s less pain and risk for consequences after the procedure.

Laser dentistry has been approved by the FDA, but has not yet been accepted by the ADA, the American Dental Association. While laser dentistry has been around for a few years now and has been found to be versatile in the treatment of many dental ailments, find a dentist with experience that can perform laser dentistry for your next procedure!

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