There are many reasons why a patient may be afraid to go to the dentist. The causes may be, inter alia: the fear of making a fool of himself at the dentist, pain, fear of needles, just the sight of the dentist, the smell, the sound of a drill, numbness, allergies to painkillers, dental expenses, and more. Luckily, these things, at worst, can be an old memory. Family Dentistry in Elwood offers modern treatments with anesthesia that makes you feel good when you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair.
Psychological approaches to overcome fear
* Take control. Many are afraid to lose control when they sit in a dental chair and that results in panic. If that’s the case with you, try to find a dentist who speaks to you throughout the treatment. A dentist who talks about what they’re doing will make you feel in control by understanding what is happening.
* Think of something else. A handy tip is to listen to music when you’re at the dentist. This keeps out all the unpleasant sound. Some dentists offer virtual reality glasses, so you can watch movies while you’re at the dentist.
* Relaxation, hypnosis and self-hypnosis.
Anesthesia
Depending on how the anesthesia is applied, a local anesthetic is divided into the following types: topical anesthesia, infiltration anesthesia and anesthesia management. This method has a small effect and can only be used in cases where the pain is not so great. Infiltration anesthesia means that the tissue is numbed. This method is efficient enough to pull out the teeth or repair teeth. Management means that the anesthetic is injected between the tooth root and the membrane, and is used to pull out the tooth surgically.
Anesthesia is used often in Family Dentistry in Elwood. The risk of complications with anesthesia, even if they are small, are always there. General anesthesia can be administered only by an anesthesiologist.
* General anesthesia with intubation (inhalation anesthesia). This method is recommended for dental treatments because the airway is not blocked.
* Intravenous anesthetics. This is used for patients over 12 years old as an adjunct to local anesthesia for the surgery.
Oral sedatives and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is also used. Find out which one is best for you. For more information, contact Elwood Avenue Dental today.
