Overcoming Dental Phobia and Anxiety

Scared of the dentist but need treatment?

We come across many patients who are anxious or nervous when it comes to dentists. For all the people who avoid going to dentists due to fear. You might have needle phobia. You might have previous bad experiences. Or sometimes there’s no particular reason for it. You’re just afraid of the whole thing when it comes to Dentistry.

Firstly, I want to tell you please don’t be embarrassed because a lot of people are out there like you. Fear of dentistry is actually very common.

We are here to help you. We’re not here to judge you. The issue is when you avoid going to the dentist, you end up with more problems, bigger problems, and bigger problems mean more major treatment, more trauma. Like, if you leave a sensitive tooth for too long, you may end up needing an extraction, and an extraction is a far more traumatic experience compared to a small filling.

Overcoming Anxiety and Treatment Options

I should say the technology has changed. The equipment and materials that we use these days are far less uncomfortable comparing what they used to be. Even the teaching of the dental team has changed towards anxious and fearful patients. These days, we get a lot of training in dealing with people who are not comfortable in coming to dentists.

Saying all that, you just need to make the first move. The first session usually is a consultation only. We have a chat with you. We get to know you. We get to know your fears. And then if you feel comfortable, we’re going to do an examination of your mouth. And we’ll figure out what’s needed to be done. Then we’re going to discuss the options you have for reducing your anxiety.

Brisbane Dentist Excellence in Dentistry strives to overcome your anxiety in many ways, there’s a T.V. on the roof – while you’re lying back, you can watch something, and it’s a very good distraction. You can always bring your own music with you and listen through earphones or we can provide you with some calming music and earphones.

We can administer happy gas for you. Happy gas calms you down and heightens the pain threshold. It’s a very safe gas, and the best thing about it is that at the end of the treatment, you can just go back to your routine, daily life. You can even drive.

We can always prescribe you some sedatives to have the night before and the day that you come here for treatment. It’s another effective way of calming you down.

Also, I.V. sedation or Twilight sedation is available as well. A medical doctor will put some sedatives into your bloodstream and you’re going to be very, very relaxed. You are not going to remember much afterwards. It is less traumatic than general anaesthesia for the body. You are going to be awake, but as the name says, you’re going to be in and out. You need to have the next day off to rest. And also, at the end of the procedure, someone has to drive you home.

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