2 DENTAL OPTIONS THAT HELP LESSEN ANXIETY

18 November 2019

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If you experience dental anxiety, you're not alone. Millions of Americans worry about dental visits because they're embarrassed by the condition of their teeth or they associate the dentist chair with pain and discomfort.

Fortunately, modern dentistry offers dental options designed to better help you relax while you're in the chair and even make some procedures seem less traumatic or invasive. When deep-breathing techniques aren't quite enough, consider these two dental options that help lessen anxiety at the dentist.

1. Laser Dentistry

Dental patients usually associate lasers with other medical procedures. However, many dentists use this intensely focused beam of light in place of traditional dental instruments to perform many common treatments. Absence of intimidating dental tools that emit sounds as they operate often makes dental patients feel more comfortable about dental visits. 

Laser dentistry offers more than just a quieter, gentler experience. Dental lasers promote faster healing times, produce less bleeding and swelling, and are often completely painless. Even better, lasers are more versatile than you think.  Lasers  deftly sculpt, alter, or remove soft tissue for:

  • Infected root canals
  • Gum disease
  • Inflamed gums
  • Gum reshaping
  • Impacted wisdom teeth exposure
  • Biopsies
  • Sleep apnea

Lasers calibrated for hard tissue can do even more for dental patients like detect cavities, help with tooth sensitivity, and prepare teeth for fillings.

2. Sedation Dentistry

Unfortunately, lasers are not suitable for every dental procedure. They cannot fill very large cavities or reach those between teeth or work around existing fillings. Traditional instruments work better to shape and polish fillings, prepare for bridges, and adjust your bite. When laser dentistry is not an option, say yes to sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is helpful when you are anxious or nervous about pain and sitting in a chair for long periods with an open mouth is beyond uncomfortable. Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you relax, but this is much more than a numbing gel and local anesthetic combination for pain management. Different levels of sedation are possible, and your anxiety level determines which one is best for you.

Minimal Sedation

Nitrous oxide gas is the most commonly used minimal sedation medication, which you breathe through your nose via a tube and mask. When used along with local anesthetics, nitrous oxide allows your body to relax yet remain pain-free and conscious while time seems to pass quickly.

The gas is safe due to its ease of reversal and mild effects on the nervous system. Your dentist regulates the flow of gas, which quickly wears off when your procedure is finished and you need to go home.

Oral Sedation

A pill such as Halcion is taken orally about an hour before your visit to produce mild sedation but can be increased to make you even sleepier. Patients with more anxiety than usual want sedation like this that might make them fall asleep in the dental chair but easily wake up when the procedure is over.

General Anesthesia

You can request the deepest level of dental sedation if you have extreme phobia of dental procedures or are about to undergo extensive dental work. You remain asleep throughout the procedure and only wake up once the medication either wears off or is medically reversed. Your dentist monitors your heart rate and blood pressure as general anesthesia carries certain risks.

Visits to your dentist can be a positive experience when your oral health benefits from regular dental care. You don't need to worry about anxiety and fear when you have helpful options like laser dentistry and sedation dentistry. Visit the caring staff at Desert Dental, and ask how Kamran Ruintan D.M.D., F.A.G.D, can make your next visit as comfortable as possible.

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