 Anxiety Sedation
Dental Anxiety And Its Management
For some people, visiting the dentist can be an dreadful thought. Stomach sinking, nervousness and anxiety can set in. This is not uncommon and is known as dental anxiety. Honestly, it is quite natural for a person to be uncomfortable when placed in a position in which they feel that they are vulnerable, as occurs in the dental chair.
Many people find a trip to the dentist, even for a simple cleaning, to be a cause for stress and nervousness. Dental anxiety is common among patients of all ages. While there is actually nothing to fear when you are in the dental chair, it is understandable why many people experience discomfort and elevated levels of stress when put in this vulnerable position.
It is important that a patient tell the doctor if they have any dental anxiety related to their planned dental treatment. Keeping their fears hidden can only lead to a much more unpleasant experience for the patient and, in more extreme circumstances, may even increase the likelihood of certain emergencies occurring, such as fainting.
If you experience dental anxiety, be sure to let your dentist know prior to your appointment. Addressing the problem up front is the best way to help you and your dentist come to an understanding of your concerns and how to address them. If fears are not shared, due to embarrassment or other reasons, emergencies such as fainting are more likely to occur.
Once the dentist is aware of the patient's dental anxiety and fears, there are many ways in which they may be addressed. In some cases, simply discussing the planned procedure is all that is necessary to alleviate the patient's dental anxiety. When this is not enough, other highly effective and safe sedation techniques can be used to alleviate dental anxiety. If the technique involves the administration of a drug, it is termed conscious sedation dentistry.
There are several ways that your dentist can help you minimize your fears and ease your dental experience. Sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation with your dentist to calm your nerves about the dental experience. For more extreme circumstances, effective and safe sedation methods are often administered to ease the process. If the sedation method requires an administered drug, it is referred to as conscious sedation dentistry. Ask your dentist if this option may be right for you.
Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry
Many dentists will prescribe a sedative drug to be taken by mouth prior to the planned treatment. If the individual has an even greater degree of dental anxiety, the doctor may prescribe an oral conscious sedative to be taken at home one hour prior to going to sleep on the evening before the appointment. If the drug is administered at home, it is IMPERATIVE that the patient NOT DRIVE A CAR to the appointment.
Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry is the technique of prescribing an oral sedative drug to be taken an hour or more before a dental procedure. If the patient's anxiety is extreme, the drug may even be prescribed to be taken the evening before the procedure. Note: patients that take a sedative before going to their appointment must have a friend or family member drive them to their appointment.
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