Dental Phobia keeping you from the dentist?
It is theorised that a third of people attend the dentist regularly, a third of people attend the dentist only when they have pain, and a third never see a dentist. Of the major reasons people report not seeing a dentist, dental phobia is high on the list. Bad past experiences, individual anxieties, embarrasment, invasion of your mouth, clustraphobia, fear of pain, are all big contributors to dental phobia. It’s only natural to avoid situations that can be perceived as harmful, even if we know it’s for our own good. But if there are any health issues that remain unaddressed, these can commonly deteriorate and lead to a worsened state in the long run. So what’s the solution?
What solutions are available for dental phobia?
Dental practices are striving to adapt to patient dental anxiety and provide solutions to produce pain free dentistry. It is standard use to use local anaesthetics to numb any areas that are worked on. Initial pinches for the injections can be minimised by the use of numbing gels. Some dentists are using compounded numbing gels to achieve a greater effect.
Additional aides can be seen in other holistic comforts, such as television screens over the dental chair, use of stress balls, head cushions, blankets, headphones and soothing music.
Where further anxiety relief is desired, certain medications can be utilised that work quite well in attending a sedative effect, however can last in the body for some time.
Another very effective method is nitrous oxide, otherwise known as happy gas, or relative analgesia. This method has been used for anxiety dentistry and pain free dentistry since the mid 1900s to great effect. With it’s long history of use, it has been deemed very safe with few contraindications. Unlike other oral medications taken, it has the advantage of working acutely when needed, but wearing off within minutes. This makes this method ideal for someone wanting to manage dental anxiety without the need of a chauffeur or carer. With nitrous oxide, you’re free to drive home straight after your procedure.
What is nitrous oxide (happy gas)?
Nitrous oxide, or happy gas, is a mixture of nitrous gas and oxygen. When inhaled, it gives a feeling of heaviness, relaxation, pain relief, and euphoria. The sensation can be likened to a very happy drunk feeling. It can minimise pain sensation significantly, to the point where, for some, no pain will be experienced. With nitrous oxide dentistry, you gain the benefits of anxiety and pain relief, but sober up within minutes, ready to continue on with your day.
Creating anxiety free dentistry with a combination of therapies
There are a number of ways to combat dental anxiety now and each dental practice will have their own methods available to best address this. By utilising a combination of methods, such as: local anaesthetics, stronger numbing gels, calming music and TV screens, stress balls, blankets, and relative analgesia: nitrous oxide or happy gas, great pain and anxiety relief can be achieved.
We offer all these methods at Smile Design Dental as we strive to make your time with us as comfortable as possible. By ustilising pain free dentistry as much as we can, we strive to further deliver anxiety free dentistry. We want you to smile with your visits to us at Smile Design Dental, and not just because your teeth look fantastic, but also because you genuinely had a positive experience.
