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Are you in need of dental care, but are too afraid to go to the dentist? Do you need extensive treatment? If so, you are not alone. For patients who need extra help to relax during treatment, sedation dentistry is available to calm your fears. Sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing, comfortable and anxiety-free experience for those who find themselves nervous about receiving dental treatment. Although common, dental anxiety prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care, which can compromise the health and functionality of your mouth and smile. What is Dental Anxiety? For some patients, the fear of going to the dentist or undergoing a dental procedure is so severe that they lose sleep at night and worry excessively about what might happen at the dentist's office. Dental anxiety is common with up to 15 percent of Americans avoiding the dentist due to fear. It is natural for people to feel some level of anxiety when visiting a dentist, but when your anxiety is preventing you from receiving proper care, it is essential that you speak with your dentist to help overcome your anxiety. Establishing trust and keeping patients informed throughout a visit to the dentist helps to calm dental fears.
Why Patients are Afraid While people are anxious about going to the dentist for different reasons, comments from family and friends, or memories of bad dental experiences more than 10 years in the past are the top sources for anxiety, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Other factors that contribute to dental phobia often include:
• Feeling like the dentist is rushed, or is neglecting your concerns.
• Anxiety about the effectiveness of local anesthetic.
• Anticipation of pain.
• Costs of recommended procedures.
• Sterile smell of the dentist's office.
• Interrupting the normal day's routine.
• For children, the first visit is a journey into the unknown. Sedation Dentistry: Calm Your Anxiety Sedation dentistry is a process used to create a relaxed and calm state through the use of sedatives, which can be tranquillizers, depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and nitrous oxide, among others. IV sedation has commonly been used as a form of sedation for patients, but with recent advancements there are other modalities for producing a relaxing experience, including:
• Intravenous sedation
• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gass)
• Deep sedation
• Oral sedation
With sedation dentistry, a level of consciousness in the patient is maintained for safety and cooperation. One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people will often feel as if their dental procedure only lasted minutes, when it might have taken several hours to perform. Complex dental procedures, such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments with new sedation dentistry techniques. If you are hesitant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing complicated procedures, sedation dentistry can help make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your treatment, allowing you to achieve the smile you have always desired. Contact your sedation dentist in Cincinnati today to discuss sedation dentistry and how it can help calm your fears.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading dentist in Cincinnati, OH, Dr. Stuart Levy. Dr. Levy is a 1986 graduate of Ohio State University College of Dentistry and has extensive experience and training in procedures for patients needing cosmetic and restorative care. From dental prosthetics to dental implants in Cincinnati, Dr. Levy provides patients with the latest in modern technology and the best, quality service.
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