Does the thought of going to the dentist make you feel uneasy or nervous? People with a severe fear of receiving dental treatments or going to the dentist’s office is more common than you might think. The fear of oral healthcare treatments is called dental phobia and is the result of a specific type of anxiety or panic disorder. The dentists and staff at Vestal Dental make it a priority to understand how this phobia manifests itself and it is our goal to make these patients feel comfortable and welcomed.
We’ve invested in sedation dentistry technology and training to allow those with moderate to severe dental anxiety to feel relaxed and comfortable during their treatment.
The feelings that accompany dental phobia manifest themselves as dread, doom and fear. In a worse case scenario for a patient, these feelings can become so intense that they result in the patient experiencing a full-blown anxiety attack.
The symptoms of an anxiety attack often include “worst case scenario”, irrational thoughts which can come with an increased heart rate and shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include chest pains which can be mistaken for cardiovascular problems. With practice, many patients can learn to process through their anxiety with meditation and breathing techniques. For some patients, medication might be necessary to handle severe cases of dental anxiety.
We believe that every patient deserves the best dental healthcare treatments, however, our team is very understanding of the sensitive nature of dental phobia. We want every patient to be able to have a healthy, beautiful smile without fearing their visit to our office. Missing routine checkups and cleanings can put people at a very high risk of developing oral health problems that could have otherwise been easily preventable. These conditions can include tooth decay, periodontal disease and tooth loss.
The sedation dentistry options we offer at Vestal Dental can provide life-changing relief to patients struggling with dental anxiety. Receiving dental sedation can help you get started on your path to creating a positive association with dental treatment and help you combat your anxieties and phobias.
We offer multiple dental sedation options to our patients. Our first option is a drug-free option which utilizes nitrous oxide to put our patients at ease. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is inhaled through a soft nasal mask and takes effect quickly while providing pain-relief and sedating benefits.
Our oral sedation option involves a prescription for an anti-anxiety form of medication. These medications help to block the chemical reactions associated with feeling of anxiety or fear. With this type of sedation, a patient can experience effects that may last longer than their appointment so a ride to and from their appointment is mandatory.
Dental anxiety can be a gripping fear, but it no longer needs to be a hurdle in maintaining your dental health. Call our office today or set up an appointment on our website to talk to our dentists about our dental sedation options.