Sedation Dentistry for Severe Dental Anxiety By on July 08, 2014

Severe Dental Anxiety

Many people are anxious before they go to visit the dentist. This sense of anxiousness is normal. Generally this means worries about possible cavities or whether or not you flossed enough (and if your dentist will notice). It's common, and many of us laugh it off as something that happens to everyone.

Yet there is a subset of people who experience major fear and anxiety when it comes to dental visit. The team at our cosmetic dentistry center would like to focus on these people right now and what dental anxiety means for them.

What is severe dental anxiety?

Sever Dental anxiety refers to extreme fear of the dentist. The dental anxiety can result in full-blown panic attacks and major spells of worry. Some people experience dental anxiety so bad that they even experience stress just thinking about dental visits or dental work.

If people fear their dentist a lot, they are less likely to visit the dentist to undergo care. Because of this, many people will avoid going to the dentist for years and years, meaning that any minor dental health issues they have will get worse over time. The result is major dental problems that require advanced therapy.

About Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry refers ways in which dentists bring their patients to relaxed states. This is not the same as the use of general anesthesia. Rather, sedation dentistry will involve the patient being conscious and responsive but simply free from any trepidation.

There are many kinds of sedation dentistry options commonly used:

Oral Conscious Sedation - Oral conscious sedation refers to the use of a pill or liquid medication which is ingested prior to the dental visit to promote a relaxed state.
IV Sedation - IV sedation uses a solution administered intravenously in order to help patients achieve a relaxed state.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation - Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is inhaled at the practice to help patients feel totally at ease.
True Sleep Dentistry -This deep level of sedation allows for complex, multi-stage dental procedures to be performed in one sitting, and leaves the patient with no memory of his or her treatment.

Suitability for sedation dentistry will be discussed during a consultation. We'll be sure to check medical records and dental health history to make sure you're fit for it.

Other Applications for Sedation Dentistry

Though sedation dentistry is great for people who suffer from severe dental anxiety, it can be used on other patients as well, including:

Patients with poor gag reflex
Patients with Parkinson's disease
Patients with cerebral palsy
Patients undergoing lengthy dental work

As stated above, suitability for sedation dentistry will be discussed during a consultation.

Which kind of sedation dentistry is right for me?

This varies from patient to patient and even from practice to practice. Generally for patients with major anxiety issues, the oral conscious sedation method is best. The pill or liquid is taken at home before the visit and the patient is then driven to the practice by a loved one. The patient will be relaxed before even arriving in the office, which means no panic while there. For other patients, IV or nitrous oxide sedation may be more feasible.

Find Out More About Sedation Dentistry

For more information about all of your options for advanced dental care treatment, be sure to contact our Nashville cosmetic dentistry center today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve the best possible results.