subject: Dental Anxiety- How It Is Caused And What You Can Do To Fight It [print this page] If experience fear when you are faced with going to the dentist, you are not alone. As much as 20% of the population of the United States suffer from the same fear and avoid going to the dentist altogether because of their 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 Are The Causes Of 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 perhaps the most common reason for 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 every visit.
*Fear of loss of control. When patients sit down in their 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 or that it won't 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 won't work and they will feel pain during the procedure. These fears are unfounded, however, as your dentist is specially trained to make you feel no pain while performing dental procedures on your teeth.
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 totally relaxed in your 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 the most common forms of oral sedation:
*Oral sedation. In this method, your dentist will prescribe a pill that you will take prior to your appointment. After taking it, your anxiety will melt away and you will be able to successfully complete your dental appointment.
*IV sedation. This method is similar to oral sedation, except that the sedation medicine is administered through an IV inserted either in your arm or about your wrist.
*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, contact your Clinton Township dentist today.
