Sedation Dentistry - How To Get Dental Work Without The Pain Or Guilt

Sedation dentistry can offer you a way to go to the dentist without worry. If you don't like going to the dental office because of pain, then this article is for you. Intellectually, you may know you need dental work. However, it's another story emotionally. Fear rarely listens to reason, and fear of the dentist's office is no different.

Many people develop fear early in life. Scientifically, babies are only born with two fears: falling and loud noises. All other fears are learned. Typically, childhood fear can carry over into adulthood. If you've ever tried to talk yourself into going to the dentist and failed, this is likely the reason why your fear seems irrational. The early associations of your youth were developed strongly and simply.

How to Prepare Yourself

While sedation dentistry can promise to prevent you from feeling pain the next time, knowing that is sometimes not enough. To really prepare yourself, try to focus on the pain you'll avoid if you go to the dentist. Tooth pain, in particular, can harass and torture you when left untreated. If you wait until the last minute, the pain can often be excruciating. The longer you wait, the more pain you'll feel by not doing anything.

Second, think about what you'll gain after walking out of the dentist's office. You may feel proud of yourself simply for confronting your fear and not having to worry about it anymore. Imagine yourself leaving from your next appointment and telling yourself, "that wasn't so bad."

When you keep doing that, you find you have a positive outcome to move toward. You may even decide to reward yourself by buying something you want or taking a break to reflect and relax. By thinking in this way, you're now prepared to include sedation dentistry to get you over the final barrier.

Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to prevent pain. The dentist can give you a pill to take before coming for treatment. You'll need to have someone else drive you to your appointment because the medicine is very strong. When you arrive, the dentist will further give you additional medicine if needed. Many people find this method effective because it simultaneously eliminates fear associated with local anesthesia that uses needles.

Guilt-Free Treatment

One final barrier you may experience to dental work is sometimes associated with guilt. You may have put off regularly scheduled dental visits due to your fear. That can often complicate the problem because you feel the dentist may somehow scold you for not taking care of your teeth regularly. The attitude of your dentist is just as important as qualifications and training. While the average dentist knows how to fix your teeth, an exceptional dentist knows how to solve your problems and leave you feeling good about it. Don't settle for less than the best. Your dentist, like any other health care provider, should view their job holistically. That means the dentist has an awareness of both your physical and emotional needs.

If you think that sedation dentistry might make your next visit more pleasant, talk to your dentist to see if they offer it. It's not offered everywhere, but many clinics are starting to do it in order to give their patients a more positive experience.