SHARES
If you suffer from dental phobia and that is preventing you from seeking dental treatment, there are several strategies to help you. First, seek out your dentist to talk about which strategies are right for you. Discuss anxiety management before starting treatment. Then, your dentist will assess and prescribe the best way to deal with it.
Management of Dental Phobia
Depending on what is most suitable for the individual, your dentist may use one of two or both approaches to help you overcome dental phobia.
For example, we can manage anxious patients with psychological techniques, effective local anaesthesia, sedation and general anaesthesia.
Psychological Techniques
Some ways to manage behavioural anxiety management methods include deep breathing, meditation, distractions (music or videos), guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation or hypnosis. Cognitive behavioural therapy, which involves efforts to change unhelpful thinking patterns, can be helpful.
Sedation
Severe dental phobia may require management with nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas), anxiety-relieving pills (benzodiazepines), twilight sedation (intravenous sedation) or general anaesthesia.
#1. Nitrous Oxide
Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide helps patients with dental phobia relax during treatment. It takes effect within a few minutes and wears off quickly. Patients are conscious throughout the treatment so this is the safest form of sedation, even for patients who have a history of high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
#2. Anxiety relieving sedative medication (oral tablets)
Oral sedatives may be prescribed to help anxious patients ease their dental phobia. A single dose is taken one hour before the dental appointment.
You will need someone to accompany you home from the dental visit as you cannot safely drive while under the influence of the sedative. The sedative can take up to 12 hours to clear from the body, so it is ideal for longer procedures.
#3. Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous (IV) sedation is provided by an anaesthetist through a drip placed into a vein in the arm.
Under IV sedation, patients are relaxed and may drift off into a light sleep, but are responsive to verbal prompts. Patients may experience drowsiness and nausea after the procedure. Short-term amnesia is a benefit of IV sedation since unpleasant memories of the procedure will not be retained
#4. General anaesthesia
General anaesthesia involves patients being ‘fully asleep’. However, side effects include nausea, a longer recovery time than other forms of sedation and a higher risk of complications.
A general anaesthetic is a good option for some, but it won’t help you learn coping strategies or get used to going to see the dentist.
#5. Local Anaesthesia
If you are afraid of dental injections, topical anaesthesia can numb the surface of the injection area. To ensure a painless experience, your dentist will ensure a sufficient waiting time for it to take effect, then inject the local anaesthesia slowly.
Conclusion
In summary, there are many ways to manage dental anxiety. With time and the support of your dentist, it is also possible to completely overcome dental anxiety. And keep your million dollar smile!
Further Reading: Afraid of your Dentist? No Fear, Help is here: Ask your Dentist
This article is contributed by Elite Dental Group
For More Information, contact Elite Dental Group
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by Jemima Joseph
Using words to create communities. Intrinsically passionate about people, music, and the arts. View all articles by Jemima Joseph.
