{"id":1196,"date":"2019-07-15T11:55:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-15T11:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/?p=1196"},"modified":"2019-07-15T11:55:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-15T11:55:31","slug":"fearing-that-trip-to-the-dentist-time-to-look-into-sedation-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/fearing-that-trip-to-the-dentist-time-to-look-into-sedation-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Fearing that Trip to the Dentist? Time to Look into Sedation Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Taking a visit to the\ndentist is never easy. No matter how minute or complex your visit is, there\u2019s\nno denying that having someone working with your teeth is jaw-clenching.\nBelieve it or not, there\u2019s actually a term for this fear: dentophobia<\/a>. Current estimates suggest that around 75% of all adults have\nsome level about going to the dentist. Of those numbers, between 5% and 10%\nhave a serious fear that prevents them from taking action\u2014even when their\nsituation is dire. If you\u2019re fearful of visiting the dentist, sedation\ndentistry can help. Here\u2019s what you need to know: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sedation 101<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, relaxing in\nthe dentist\u2019s chair can feel impossible. This is where sedation comes in. Even\nfor the most basic procedures, patients can opt for elective sedation to ease\ntheir mind and have a more comfortable experience. With sedation dentistry,\nsedation drugs are administered before or during a surgery. This allows you to\nremain relaxed and remain still as work is being completed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Sedation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are multiple types\nof sedation. Some are designed to keep you asleep for the duration of the\nsurgery, while others simply keep you relaxed while you\u2019re awake during the\nprocedure. What you choose depends on your surgery and the severity of your\nanxiety and fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three common\ntypes of sedation: inhaled sedation, oral sedation, and general anesthesia.\nDuring inhaled sedation, you breathe in nitrous oxide\u2014also called \u201claughing gas.\u201d\nAs you breathe in this gas, your body and mind start to relax, and the dentist\ncan control how much of it is administered. Generally, this wears off pretty\nquickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral sedation comes in\ndifferent doses. This pill behaves like valium, making you relaxed and even a\nbit drowsy. It\u2019s not uncommon for patients to fall asleep with oral sedation,\nhowever, a gentle shake is it all it will take to awaken them. Deep sedation\nrenders you completely unconscious throughout your procedure. As the most\nextreme of the sedation options, it may take you longer to regain full\nconsciousness, and you\u2019ll likely need help getting home after the\nprocedure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The type of sedation<\/a> that\u2019s best depends on your personal health and\ncondition. For example, if you have an aversion to needles, IV sedation\nwouldn\u2019t work well for you. Or if you have a fear of being vulnerable in a\nchair during a sleep-induced procedure, general anesthesia can probably be\nruled out in favor of a more calming, aware type of sedation. Talk to your\ndentist about your concerns to come up with the best sedation treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the Causes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the majority of\ncases, people with dentophobia have a fear of dentists because of a previous\ntraumatic experience. For example, they might have had a very complicated or\npainful procedure in the past. In some cases, they may have had a bad\ninteraction with the dentist. Dealing with an insensitive or uncaring dentist\ncan make the entire dental process feel cold and harsh, and will set the tone\nfor your dental visits for years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some fears even stem\nfrom indirect experiences\u2014something you saw on the news or heard about from a\nfriend. And in other circumstances, individuals may experience a fear of\ndentists because they carry an underlying fear of doctors in general. The smell\nand appearance of clinics and hospitals could induce those deeper levels of\nanxiety and fear. This is the same premise behind the \u201cwhite coat\nsyndrome\u201d\u2014where accurate reading of blood pressure among patients are hard to\nget because blood pressure and heart rates rise in clinical settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper Treatment for\nDental Anxiety <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you find that this\nphobia is truly stifling your ability to address some health concerns, you\nshould consider seeking therapy in addition to requesting sedation. Therapy,\nbehavioral techniques, and in some cases medication, can help you combat this\nfear. Start with some relaxation techniques that can help relieve some of your\nfear. Deep breathing exercising and meditation can help you learn how to handle\nsitting in a dentist\u2019s office, whether it\u2019s in the waiting room or in the\nchair. The goal is to gradually teach yourself to be rid of those fears without\nassistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing the best dentist<\/a> is also key. \u201cBeing comfortable with your\ndentist is also key to a successful visit and procedure,\u201d says Argyle Family Dental<\/a>, a dental practice in Centennial, CO. \u201cYou should visit multiple\ndentists for a consultation to learn more about how they interact with their\npatients. Be transparent about your fear and pay attention to their suggestions\nfor alleviating that fear. How comfortable they make you feel during these\nearly visits is crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking a visit to the dentist is never easy. No matter how minute or complex your visit is, there\u2019s no denying that having someone working with your teeth is jaw-clenching. Believe it or not, there\u2019s actually a term for this fear: dentophobia. Current estimates suggest that around 75% of all adults have some level about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1196"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}