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Does the thought of receiving treatment, even routine care, send shivers down your spine? If you fear the dentist, you are not alone. However, neglecting dental care can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease. It can also make the management of some health issues very difficult such as stroke, diabetes, organ transplants and prosthetic joint replacements. Anxiety disorders, which include phobias, panic attacks, generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), are serious conditions with oral health implications that can be treated with a variety of methods. Patients with anxiety disorders may disregard their oral health altogether and are at an increased risk for dental caries, periodontal disease, and bruxism. Talk to your dentist about your anxiety and what medications you are on to alert them to potential symptoms. What is Dental Anxiety? Sometimes, a person's fear of going to the dentist, or undergoing dental procedures, can be so severe that they may lose sleep at night, and worry excessively about what might happen at the dentist's office. People are anxious about going to the dentist to receive treatment for various reasons. Past experiences shared by family and friends are top sources of anxiety for patients, while other factors that contribute to dental anxiety include: * Feeling like the dentist is rushed or is neglecting your concerns
* Anxiety about the effectiveness of local anesthetic
* Anticipation of pain
* Sterile smell of the dentist's office
* Interrupting the normal day's routine
* For children, the first visit is a journey into the unknown A survey performed by the American Association of Endodontists found that 80 percent of adults fear the dentist. More than half of these adults say that their fear is enough to keep them from visiting their dentist for proper dental procedures. Additionally, women and children report more dental anxieties than men and the elderly. Sedation Dentistry Can Help Sedation dentistry refers to the use of medication during treatment to put patients into a relaxed state, almost like sleep. It is often used during procedures that require an extensive amount of time in the treatment chair, and is ideal for patients who experience dental phobia or have difficulty controlling their movements. Many forms of sedation are used to alleviate anxiety or put patients in a sleep-like state, so that little is felt or remembered from the procedure. Sedation dentistry techniques include:
* Oral conscious sedation
* Intravenous sedation
* Nitrous oxide With different types and degrees of dental sedation available, the technique recommended by your dentist in Ottawa will depend upon the treatment being performed and the degree of your dental anxiety. Your general health also plays a role in what might work best for you, and your dentist will be able to tell if you are a candidate for sedation with oral sedatives, oral combined with nitrous oxide, or intravenous medication. Your dentist in Ottawa is always available and willing to help reduce your dental anxieties. With proper communication, you and your cosmetic dentist in Ottawa can come to an effective solution to make you more comfortable while receiving treatment.
Dr. Leila Ebrahimpoor is an experienced sedation and Ottawa dentist. With a focus on quality care and comfort, this cosmetic dentist in Ottawa offers a variety of dental treatments including dental implants, tooth whitening and veneers among many other smile-enhancing cosmetic procedures.
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