Sedation Dentistry: How to overcome your Dental Phobia

Having a fear of the dentist is not uncommon. Although it means different things to different people — perhaps a recalled childhood memory or unusual sounds that might suggest treatment will be painful — dental phobia often manifests itself in the same symptoms.

Symptoms of Dental Phobia

· Feeling tense or having trouble sleeping the night before a dental appointment

· Feeling physically ill at the thought of a dental check up

· Increased anxiety once in the waiting room

· Panic or trouble breathing when dental instruments are placed in the mouth

· Doing anything to postpone or cancel a dental appointment when there is no logical reason

For those suffering from any of the above symptoms, sedation dentistry is a welcome addition to the oral care routine, ensuring that those who are badly affected by nerves and anxiety at the dentist can have vital dental work done to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

One of the most difficult tasks to accomplish for those who are worse affected by dental phobia is actually getting to their dental practice. This is something that can be made easier by knowing that the dentist in question is skilled in sedation dentistry techniques and can therefore help to put patients’ minds at ease. Once getting over the threshold is achieved, even the most nervous of patients can be treated.

Techniques used to relax nervous dental patients

There are many ways that experienced dentists will employ to help patients who feel anxious during their dental appointment, these might include:

· Using the first appointment as a consultation only, giving the patient time to ask questions about treatment and the dentist the opportunity to explain what will happen and reassure the patient.

· Playing calming music or videos during treatment to relax the patient and take their mind of what is going on

· Offering hypnosis or relaxation techniques before treatment to calm feelings of distress or fear

· Starting with a simple procedure such as a scale and polish to build up trust, before moving onto more complex treatments

With the employment of the latest dental techniques and technology, most treatments are painless or completed with the minimum amount of discomfort, but this will come as little relief to those who recoil at the sound of dental instruments.

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry goes one step further than the techniques mentioned above to put extremely nervous patients to sleep ahead of a dental procedure. The sedation process is quick and painless and when the patient wakes up he or she will feel calm, relaxed and reassured that vital dental treatments, such as fillings or fitting braces, have been completed.

Self Help Techniques for nervous patients

Of course, sedation is only recommended for the most nervous of dental patients and if you only suffer from mild anxiety at the thought of your next check-up there are plenty of simple steps you can take to help yourself. These include:

· Booking an appointment at a time of day that suits you or that you will feel most relaxed and not in a hurry. Many people find that morning appointments are most successful as they don’t have all day to worry beforehand.

· Taking a friend with you to the dentist. It can help to reduce fear and worry if you have a familiar face close by.

· Eating before you go. If you are prone to anxiety, then the last thing you will want is to feel faint in the dentist’s chair as this will only exacerbate the problem so remember to eat before your appointment.

· Listen to your favourite music before you go or whilst in the waiting room

St Piran Dental Practice in Perranporth, Cornwall, specialise in sedation dentistry and putting nervous patients at ease. Set just metres from the beach, they are in the ideal spot for relaxation so if you have been putting treatment off or are in need of a check-up why not find out how St Piran can ease your dental anxiety? Visit their website or call the practice on 01872 573993 for more information.

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