The thought of visiting a dentist is one of the most common phobias for many people. They associate a dental visit with anxiety, fear, and even pain. Some people would rather endure the agony of tooth pain than visiting a dentist’s office. It leads many people to put off or postpone dental visits. Some do so even when they start noticing signs and symptoms of a dental problem.

 

Failing to address a dental problem early can lead to more serious complications down the road. If you experience anxiety at the prospect of visiting your dentist, please understand that you are not alone. According to some statistics, about 30 percent of people in the U.S. experience anxiety or fear when they visit a dentist.

 

Do You Fear the Dentist’s Chair?

Do you tend to avoid the dentist’s chair like the plague? If you do, there is a way to overcome some of your anxiety and fear. Nowadays, doctors can use sedation for everything, from a simple non-invasive procedure to a more invasive surgical procedure. How your dentist uses sedation will depend on the severity of your anxiety.

 

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

This form of dentistry uses medications to help anxious patients feel more relaxed during various dental procedures. Some people refer to it as sleep dentistry; however, this term is not entirely accurate. Except for patients under general anesthesia, those who choose sedation dentistry are usually awake.

 

Dentists use different levels of sedation depending on the situation. These include minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. The common types of sedation used in dentistry include oral sedation, inhaled sedation, IV moderate sedation, and deep sedation.

 

Benefits

Each type or level of sedation has its benefits for specific situations. If you often feel anxious about the idea of visiting your dentist’s office, sedation therapy can provide several benefits that you probably never considered. These include:

 

Anterograde Amnesia

In most situations, amnesia is not a desirable outcome. When it comes to dental procedures, however, it may not be such a bad thing. Most people have a phobia of the dentist due to a previous unpleasant experience, especially in childhood.

 

Unfortunately, this phobia tends to grow with each visit. With sedation dentistry, however, there will be no build-up of the phobia since your mind cannot create new memories. This form of dentistry can even help reduce the anxiety you experience on future visits.

 

It Simplifies the Dental Treatment or Procedure

Some dental procedures are more uncomfortable and painful than others. Also, some people tend to be highly sensitive. For example, if you have sensitive teeth or a bad gag reflex, sedation dentistry is a great way to take away any discomfort and pain you might experience. This will help make the procedure or treatment proceed more smoothly.

 

It Allows the Dentist to Work Faster

When you are under the influence of anesthetics or sedatives, you will not be squirming around while your dentist is trying to work. This will help your dentist work faster and more efficiently. Consequently, you will be out of the dentist’s chair much faster.

 

Sedation dentistry is also ideal for patients with special needs, such as sensory processing disorders or autism spectrum disorders.


 

To learn more about sedation dentistry, visit Riverview Dental at our office in Corunna, Michigan. You can call 989-743-4851 today to book an appointment.