Jefferson City dental patients have the same feelings towards dental procedures as people I’ve worked with all over the world—even the mere suggestion of them can be enough to trigger anxiety. Our team at Stadium Dental Center understands how you feel and we have effective ways to help relieve your dental anxieties. What triggers them and how can you overcome them? Here are some tips on the subject.
Why do people experience dental anxiety?
Your individual feelings towards dentistry may include one or more of these triggers of dental anxiety:
Fears of a loss of control or helplessness
Concerns with pain during and after dental procedures
Embarrassment about your dental condition
The memory of unpleasant prior dental experiences, either your own or those of your family or friends
Fear of needles, drills, unwelcome tastes/smells and gagging
Costly and/or extensive treatment
Don’t let these fears keep you from getting the care you need to keep your smile healthy. With a little help, you too can overcome these fears like many of our Stadium Dental Center clients have.
How can Stadium Dental Center help?
Our highly trained team can help you understand what to expect during your visit. There’s no need to fear the unknown—we’ll keep you informed to help ease your anxiety. We’re committed to answering your questions and giving you the info you need to understand you proposed treatment.
What can I do to relax?
Prior to your visit, try not to load up on caffeine and sugar, since they’ll make it harder for you to relax. While you’re in our patient lounge, some constructive distraction can help: browse through magazines, listen to soothing music, or watch television. Before treatment, share your concerns with one of our team members.
During your treatment, focus on deep, slow breathing—don’t hold your breath or hyperventilate. Rapid or shallow breathing contributes to anxieties and anesthetic effectiveness. Schedule your appointments when you feel well rested. We’ll follow up with you by phone or text later in the day of your visit to see how well you’re feeling and to answer questions about your treatment after you get home.
What if my self-relaxation attempts don’t work?
When discussing your treatment plan, you can ask us about sedation options. We offer three sedation methods. Nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation (‘laughing gas’) provides a measure of relief for mild to moderate anxieties. Sedative medications can also be given by mouth or by intravenous routes using a superficial vein. The effect of sedation is to make you feel more relaxed and somewhat sleepy. We’re trained in the safe administration of sedation, and combined with profound local anesthesia, dental procedures can be accomplished very comfortably. Prior to the sedation visit a thorough assessment of relevant medical factors is done to ensure there will be no serious risks for you. If you have anxiety before, during, or after your dental visits, please talk with us about it!
