If you experience fear or anxiety at the thought of going to the dentist or undergoing dental procedures, you’re far from alone. Whether you call it dental fear, dentist phobia, dental anxiety, odontophobia, or dentophobia, your fear and anxiety are common and normal.
Having said that, dental fear and anxiety can also be harmful if it prevents you from receiving the dental care you need to be healthy. To eliminate the risk that fear and anxiety will compromise your oral health, you should consider sedation dentistry in Los Angeles. Sedation dentistry is a range of methods — ranging from mild relaxation via laughing gas to asleep dentistry via an IV — to help you relax and ensure you get the care you need.
Sedation dentistry at a periodontist in Los Angeles can help you through seven situations — including dental phobia, but many more. Here’s a brief introduction to each, but don’t hesitate to contact a periodontist near you if you have any questions about your situation and needs.
Dental anxiety — Sedation dentistry can help you to overcome your fear of going to the dentist in the first place and help you relax while there to prevent you from panicking to ensure your treatment is completed successfully.
Algophobia — Many people fear pain, not the dentist. While modern dental procedures are far less painful than they used to be, and many are entirely painless, sedation dentistry can help you overcome this obstacle.
Sights, sounds, and smells — Dental procedures involve a unique combination of sounds and sensations, including vibrations. For many people, those sights, sounds, and smells trigger anxiety. Your periodontist in Los Angeles can offer sedation options that will minimize the effect of those potential triggers.
Helping you to forget — For many people, dental anxiety and fear stem from a particularly traumatic memory of a difficult dental experience. Your periodontist in Los Angeles can help you manage the trauma of past memories and help to prevent the formation of new memories through a sedation technique called twilight anesthesia.
Controlling your gag reflex — Many people find dental procedures uncomfortable because they inevitably involve placing objects in your mouth, especially if you have a particularly sensitive gag or choking reflex. Your periodontist can temporarily paralyze your gag reflex using sedation dentistry techniques such as oral sedatives, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or, depending on the length and complexity of the procedure, IV sedation.
Helping to tolerate multiple or prolonged procedures — The physical stamina and stillness required while undergoing multiple or lengthy dental procedures can be challenging for anyone. It may be especially hard if you naturally have restless legs or are already nervous and anxious about being at the dentist’s office in the first place. If you are concerned about your ability to remain still and calm throughout anticipated dental work, discuss this with your periodontist. Sedation dentistry can help you get the dental treatment you need efficiently and as comfortably as possible.
Moving things along — Why do some seemingly routine dental procedures seem to take so long? It may be because you often flinch in anticipation of discomfort or fidget in a way that your dentist and their staff need to adjust to and work around. One of the best ways to quicken a dental appointment is to eliminate those unnecessary movements and reactions. If that’s not as easy for you as it sounds, sedation options can help.
If you experience dental anxiety or any of these other situations that can stand between you and your dental health, contact a local periodontist and ask about the availability of sedation dentistry near you. It may be precisely what you need to overcome whatever obstacles exist.