If you feel anxious about visiting the dentist, you are not alone. Research has shown that over a third of adults have a fear of going to the dentist, and whilst it is normal to feel worried about something, particularly when you don’t know what to expect, being afraid of the dentist may mean you are putting off vital appointments. Not only will avoiding the dentist mean that your oral health may suffer, but also your bank balance, as eventually you may end up needing costly treatment.
If you are a nervous patient please read on as at Riverside Dental Spa we offer a dental sedation service to ensure that nervous patients can make the most of our treatments in a relaxed and calming way.
What Causes Dental Anxiety?
You might be afraid of sitting in the dentist’s chair but may not even know what is causing your anxiety. In general, we find that dental anxiety is caused by one of the following things:
- Fear of pain - it is normal to worry about pain, as when you experience pain, it is the body’s natural reaction to worry about it and focus on protecting the area that hurts. However, it is also important to note that dentists have a range of techniques, including anaesthesia and dental sedation, that prevent any possible pain, so you can get the benefit of dental treatment without being worried about how much it might hurt.
- Needle phobia - many people have a fear of needles and injections and again, this is very commonplace. Your dentist can reassure you that any injections you may need to have during your treatment will not be painful and they can use a numbing gel around the area to help prevent this and also dental sedation, should you be particularly anxious
- Bad previous experience - many cases of dental anxiety stem from a bad previous experience, whether as an adult or a child. Sometimes, just talking through this experience with your dentist and having them show you how the treatment will progress will be enough to put your mind at ease, but if you need something else, our sedation dentists are on hand to help.
- The sound of the dentists drill - we’re used to this sound but we understand that for some patients it may seem unnerving sitting in the waiting room, hearing this noise and worrying that you might be next. Your dentist can reassure you by talking you through each stage of your treatment, taking a break if you need to and using sedation techniques if you need to feel more relaxed.
How Does Dental Sedation Work?
Dental sedation uses intravenous (sedative injected through your vein) or oral sedation (gas inhaled through a mask) techniques to put you in a state of deep relaxation. Unlike general anaesthesia, you won’t be completely out of it, but will instead be very relaxed and still able to communicate with your dentist.
You won’t feel any pain or discomfort whilst under dental sedation and you’ll recover in practice, to allow the effects to subside. We recommend that you do not drive for 24 hours afterwards, so you will need to arrange for someone to collect you after your appointment and take you home.
Looking for a Sedation Dentist in London?
If you’re feeling nervous about your next trip to the dentist, or have been putting off treatment or a check up because of dental anxiety, please do call us on 020 7091 0677 or email us here to find out more about how our sedation dentists can put your mind at ease and help you breeze through your appointment.
