When you have a fear of attending a dental check-up, it can feel very isolating.
As many patients who have a dental phobia know, with media images of celebrities with perfect smiles becoming the mainstay, it can feel embarrassing to know that your teeth are not in top condition and it is due to a worry about getting into the dental chair.
However, it is now common for almost every dental surgery to be able to offer the most nervous and anxious patients treatment and help for overcoming their dental phobias. While many dental professionals were once judgemental of nervous patients who had missed a few check-ups, there is now a professional attitude aimed at acceptance and compassion. And so, if you are worried about that niggling pain in your tooth but are worried about your dentist Wagga judging you, contact your surgery today and enquire about sleep dentistry.
If you need a bit more help with attending a dental appointment than deep breathing and listening to music, sleep dentistry can be the perfect way to get your teeth back in top condition without creating anxiety. As your dentist in Wagga may tell you, sleep dentistry uses sedative options to help reduce a patient’s fears once they are in the dental chair, often blocking out the memory of any treatment they have had. This means that procedures can become accessible to the most nervous of patients.
So, what are the different ways your dentist will ease your worries using sleep dentistry?
Oral sedatives
First and foremost, if you feel apprehensive about having a dental check-up, talk to your surgery’s reception team about undertaking oral sedation.
While this will require you to fill in some forms to assess your suitability based on your current health, oral sedatives are an easy way to calm your nerves before you get into the dental chair. Typically, the most common type of oral sedative used is a benzodiazepine, often triazolam, but you can ask your dental team the exact name of the oral sedative that they use if you want to conduct research beforehand.
Once the treatment is completed, you may feel a bit woozy and sleepy, so avoid operating heavy machinery and if necessary, bring along a friend or family member to take you home afterwards.
Nitrous oxide
Ah, nitrous oxide! Also known as laughing gas, this has been a mainstay in dental surgeries for a while and has helped thousands of patients manage their fears surrounding dental treatments.
Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask and once your treatment is complete, you may feel a bit dizzy, but this will wear off and allow you to go about your day as usual. Perfect!
Anaesthetic
If you want to be unconscious for your dental treatment, talk to your dental team about anaesthetic.
They may not be able to accommodate this in their surgery, but will refer you to a nearby day clinic. You will need someone to escort you home after this sedation type, and should refrain from operating heavy machinery.
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified practitioner.
Leave a Reply