We care for patients every day who have experienced fear and anxiety about receiving dental treatment. We know that dental anxiety is real.
In fact, statistics reveal that over 60% of the population has some fear or anxiety when it comes to dental visits, and as much as 10% has dental phobia so strong they avoid getting the dental care they need. Fortunately, if you suffer from it, there are things we can do to reduce or eliminate your fear and create a more pleasant experience for you.
Causes of Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety can be triggered by many things:
- Fear of needles
- Fear of drills
- Prior bad experiences
- Fear of loss of control
- Anxieties associated with conditions like claustrophobia and agoraphobia
- The sight, sounds, and smells of a dental office
We Can Manage Your Anxiety With Oral Sedation Dentistry
Oral sedation is the most common technique used in the U.S. to ease dental fear. It is also beneficial for patients who are particularly sensitive to pain, are prone to gag, or can’t tolerate a lengthy procedure without some aid.
Possibly the biggest benefit is how easy it is to administer, especially for those who are afraid of shots — there is no needle. Prior to your appointment, you’ll be given a pill to take that is designed to dim your awareness of pain, sounds, and smells. By the time of your treatment, you’ll be totally at ease and relaxed. You’ll come out of the procedure refreshed instead of fatigued from stress and nervous worry.
It’s a safe technique because oral sedatives are regulated by the FDA, and training and certification is required of the dentist to administer oral sedation. Since you will be taking the sedative prior to arrival and may be too relaxed afterward, you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
Additional Ways We Ease Your Dental Anxiety
In addition to providing sedation dentistry, we keep up to date on the technology that makes your experience more relaxing and comfortable. Do you dread the sound of the drill screeching? Our cutting-edge WaterLase® allows us to use little or no anesthetic or drills for many dental procedures, and our airbrush can be used in many cases to remove decay painlessly, usually without anesthetic.
We are pleased to say that many of our formerly fearful patients no longer dread making (and keeping) their appointments for dental treatment with us. Don’t let fear of the dentist’s office keep you from having a beautiful, healthy smile.
If you are in the Spotswood, New Jersey, area and think oral sedation might be right for you, call for an appointment and find out what our high-quality, patient-first care can do for you.
