How We Treat Your Dental Anxiety
Thorough dental sedation - the initial step of treating dental anxiety
After treating dental anxiety patients for over a decade, we are well aware that to help our patients enjoy the benefits of excellent oral and overall health is to help them overcome their dental fear and dental anxiety.
The initial approach to help fearful dental patients is the varying methods of dental sedation. Once the patient completes the dental treatment that they have been putting off for years due to their fear, they feel a powerful sense of accomplishment and confidence. This sense of accomplishment and confidence will help the patient to move to the next phase of treatment utilizing lighter sedation methods and distraction techniques (i.e. movie glasses and headphones) for routine cleaning appointments. We encourage patients to utilize lighter forms of sedation as they develop more confidence and trust in us to help them overcome their fear.
This happens to be the most effective conditioning approach of treating dental fear and anxiety. Although surprising, most cases regardless of their degree of dental fear, patients happen to progress in this direction.
This progress happens for several reasons:
- Trust: Our patients develop a trusting relationship with us once they understand that we take their dental fear and anxiety very seriously.
- Confidence: A heightened sense of confidence and accomplishment after completing all major dental treatment under sedation which gives patients the courage to face their fears.
- The realization that it wasn’t as bad as they thought. Dental fear and anxiety, although the feeling is real, can cause unrealistic and unreasonable behavior.
- Conditioning: Natural conditioning and behavior modification progress.
Your first visit with Dr. Saleh, cosmetic dentist
When you call our office, it is important that you communicate with us regarding your dental fear as the process of introducing you to our dental practice differs from the average patient.
The goal of the first visit is to assess your degree of dental fear and anxiety as well as sources.
Depending on how you feel we may or may not perform a dental exam and x-rays. The dental exam and x-rays can be performed on you next visit or even under sedation if desired.
Prevention of dental anxiety involves a sequence of appointments
Our approach to treating patients with dental fear and anxiety has been developed over years of experience. If required, anti-anxiety medication is prescribed to the patient to take the night before and one hour before the dental appointment. After establishing yourself as a patient in our clinic and after detailed review of your health history, this can be done at any appointment.
The following sequence of appointments is commonly utilized when treating dental anxiety patients at the Sedation Dentistry Clinic at Dental Dynamics:
First dental appointment
Our initial appointment is aimed at meeting us and assessing the level of your fear and anxiety, as well as, their sources. Some patients feel comfortable enough to have the exam and x-rays completed at that appointment.
Second dental appointment
The second appointment is commonly utilized for dental exam and x-rays if it wasn’t performed at the first appointment. Some patients may desire to have their exam and x-rays completed under sedation.
Third dental appointment
Generally the third appointment is aimed at completing your treatment under IV Sedation. In some cases additional appointments under IV sedation may be needed depending on the extent of treatment needed.
Follow-up and routine appointments
These are your routine cleaning and periodic exam appointments. Once the major dental treatment is completed, your dental cleaning may be completed under lighter forms of sedation such as nitrous oxide or even without sedation at all depending on how comfortable you feel. Follow up appointments every 3-6 month are important for the long-term health of your teeth and to prevent the need for future extensive treatment.