Dental Anxiety- How You Can Overcome It

If you experience fear when you are faced with the prospect of scheduling a dental appointment

, you are not alone. As much as 20% of the population of the United States suffer from the same fear and even avoid seeing their dentist because of this fear. Avoiding the dentist can lead to a multitude of problems including tooth decay, gum disease and even more serious problems. By having an honest conversation with your dentist, he or she will be able to offer you treatment that can make you feel more comfortable and reduce your anxiety.

What Causes Dental Anxiety?

While many people experience dental anxiety, there are a few common causes of it among patients. Here are a few of the most common causes of dental anxiety:

*Fear of pain. This is probably the most common cause of dental anxiety. There is a stigma surrounding dental work that makes patients think that they will feel a great deal of pain. However, advances in modern dentistry have made seeing the dentist an almost pain-free experience with every visit.

*Fear of losing control. When patients sit down in the dentist's chair, they feel like they are totally losing control of what is happening to them. To prevent this fear, communication is essential to understand exactly what your dentist is doing.

*Fear of anesthesia of that it will not work. Many dental procedures require the use of local anesthetic to numb the area around your teeth. Many people experience fear of an injection or fear that the anesthetic wont work and they will feel pain during the procedure. These fears are unfounded, however, as your dentist is specifically trained to make you feel no pain during your dental procedures.

Sedation Dentistry

After discussing your anxiety with your dentist, one of the treatment options he or she may recommend is a form of sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is a practice that uses medicine to fully relax you during your dental procedure. By doing this, your fear of the dentist will melt away and you will feel completely relaxed in the dentist's chair. Although you will feel extremely relaxed, you will never fully lose consciousness. This way, you will be free to respond to your dentist's commands and questions. Here are several common oral sedation methods:

*Oral sedation. Your dentist will prescribe a pill that you will take before your appointment. After taking it, your anxiety will disappear and you will be able to successfully complete your dental appointment.

*Nitrous oxide. Also known as "laughing gas", nitrous oxide sedation is another popular form of sedation. You simply breathe in the nitrous oxide and almost instantaneously feel a sense of relaxation.

To learn more about how to deal with dental anxiety or to schedule an appointment, talk to your Boston dentist today.

by: Gen Wright

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