Over the past several years, there has been a marked increase in the availability of sedation in dentist’s offices around the world. Dr. Frey is a Beverly Hills dentist who believes that our patients should have something to look forward to when they see us. When fear stands in the way of obtaining general or cosmetic dental care, as it does for millions of people, there is little chance that one will love their smile. We are happy to provide calming medication that facilitates feelings of safety and security during your visits to our office.
Advantages of Sleep Dentistry
The obvious reason why you are interested in sleep dentistry is because you have some degree of apprehension about seeing the dentist. Having the ability to take a small pill prior to your visit gives you the peace of mind you need to attend to your oral health and smile aesthetic in the most comfortable manner. Additional advantages of sedation include:
- Maximum pain control. One of the reasons that many patients are fearful of dental care is that they believe it may hurt. Sedation is used in conjunction with local anesthetic. Because you are already calm and slightly drowsy when you arrive for your visit, a little thing like injection of numbing medication will not bother you one bit. Also, anesthetic is nicely complemented by sedatives, maxing out your sense of comfort during dental treatment.
- Time-savings. Dental care on a non-sedated patient may take longer. In fact, it may take several visits. Sedation achieves a state of relaxation that allows the dentist to work at the highest rate of efficiency. Sleep dentistry also makes it possible to complete more than one treatment in a single visit, saving you from unnecessary stress.
- Physical relaxation. Sedation dentistry is ideal for patients who have difficulty sitting still or who suffer from uncontrollable physical movement, such as individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.
To maintain the healthiest smile possible requires routine dental care. When dental anxiety exists, this may seem an impossible feat. However, you can see what a vicious cycle it creates to avoid seeing the dentist. If you have avoided the care you need because you fear certain aspects of the dental visit itself, give us a call to discuss how sedation can help you. A friendly member of our staff is available at 310-276-4537.
Keeping your teeth in good shape is not always easy. While it’s important to brush and floss your teeth and eat the right foods for optimal oral health, it’s also recommended to visit dentist for regular checkups and cleaning.
More extreme conditions such as chipped teeth, bleeding gums, and jaw soreness can be an indication of serious health problems and should not be ignored. Over the counter treatments and home remedies can often make these problems worse, and a visit the dentist is strongly encouraged for treatment.
But is your fear of the dentist hurting your oral care routine?
The Fear Of Dentists And Dental Care
Dentist “phobia” or dentophobia is also called odontophobia and dental-anxiety. It’s the name used for “fear of the dentist” and is more than a strong dislike of dental procedures.
What Are The Causes Of Dentophobia?
There are two types of experiences that can result in a phobia:
A direct experience is the most common way for someone to develop a fear, and usually begins with a traumatic or painful event.
An indirect cause can be just as powerful, and some examples of indirect causes include:
- Vicarious Learning – the phobia may be learned from others’ experiences with dentists
- Stimulus Generalization – dental phobia may be linked to another fear such as hospitals
- Media and Television
- Feeling “Out of Control”
Never Fear The Dentist Again With Sleep Dentistry
Just as the name suggests, sleep dentistry (a.k.a. sedation dentistry) is a procedure where the dentist will use medication to help calm a patient. This practice can also be used to complete more dental work in a single visit.
There are 4 levels of sedation that may be used:
- Minimal (awake but fully relaxed)
- Moderate (slurring of words, and the patient might not remember much about the procedure)
- Deep (edge of consciousness but can still be awakened)
- General anesthesia (completely unconscious)
Sleep dentistry can be used to complete multiple procedures in fewer visits, and may also help patients with a dental phobia overcome their fears and anxieties. If you’re interested in sedation dentistry, ask your dentist if the treatment is right for you.