Dental Anxiety and Sedation Dentistry

If you find it next to impossible for you to relax while you in a dentist’s office, don’t worry. You are not alone. Dental anxiety is a fairly widespread condition. Almost 20 percent of all Americans will avoid going to the dentist even in a dire situation due to anxiety and fear.

A subset of generalized anxiety disorder, dental phobia can turn into an extremely critical issue because patients are so frightened they absolutely refuse to see a dentist. This allows their dental problems to grow exponentially worse. In a lot of cases, patients with dental anxiety will ignore and even deny they have a dental problem even when they are experiencing intense pain.

Luckily for patients suffering from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry is a modern method of dentistry that is able to help patients stay relaxed and calm while they are at a dental appointment. It doesn’t matter if it’s time for your regular teeth cleaning or you are in desperate need of a more thorough dental procedure, sedation dentistry is the ideal way to let go of your anxiety and decrease any potential discomfort.

What is Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety is defined as an illogical fear of the dentist stemming from a fear of injections, fear of anesthesia, fear of pain, fear of the absence of control, fear of a lack of personal space, and many other things. Some additional signs of dental anxiety include:

• Inability to relax or fall asleep the night before a dental appointment
• Showing physical signs of anxiety and panic in the waiting room
• Getting physically ill, shaking, and/or crying at the thought of going to the dentist
• Getting irrationally angry when someone mentions the dentist, even if it doesn’t relate to you

Advantages of Sedation Dentistry

The main advantage of sedation dentistry is feeling comfortable and relaxed during dental appointments. Some patients also enjoy:

Dentists Can Work More Quickly

Patients who have a dental phobia usually get nervous and fidgety in the chair, which makes it harder for the dentists to get his work done. 

Eliminates Fear and Anxiety

The fear and anxiety of going to the dentist are often worse than the visit itself. Sedation dentistry provides patients with the comfort of knowing their anxiety is going to go away.

Eliminates Pain Associated with Treatments

One huge advantage of sedation dentistry is that the fear of pain goes away, which will allow the dentist to administer an anesthetic to the patient.

A lot of procedures associated with the dentist cause fear and anxiety in people. At the Del Mar office of Curtis L. Chan, DDS we want you to feel as relaxed and as comfortable as possible so that you can take care of your teeth properly. 

If you would like more information concerning sedation dentistry, or if you want to discuss other methods of handing dental anxiety, we urge you to schedule an appointment with a San Diego, California cosmetic dentist today by calling (858) 481-9090. 

Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve a beautiful, bright set of teeth in a comfortable, safe environment.