Is Fear of the Dentist Endangering Your Health?

    OAKTON, VA, December 10, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Fear of the dentist, though, can be a serious issue. Regular dental care is vitally important not only to the health of your teeth and gums, but to your health overall. Infections in the mouth can become serious, spreading into your facial bones and elsewhere. Most dentists inspect the mouth for signs of oral cancer or other problems in the mouth. Some mouth issues can even be fatal if left untreated. Recent evidence even points to a direct connection between gingivitis and heart disease. So if fear of the dentist keeps you from regular dental care, you could be endangering more than just your teeth.

In addition, if you've avoided the dentist for a long time because of your fear, when you do muster up the courage to go, you might discover that you need a great deal of work done to correct years of neglect. The thought of having so much dental work done can make your anxiety that much worse - and so the vicious circle continues.

There is a solution, though, for even the most timid. Many dentists now offer sedation dentistry to their patients - an approach to dental care that takes away the anxiety of the dentist's chair.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

In sedation dentistry, patients are given a mild sedative to remove any sense of fear or anxiety through the course of their visit to the dentist. Although sedation dentistry is often referred to as "sleep dentistry," you are not put to sleep during the procedure. The medication merely allows you to enter a tranquil, almost dream-like state. You remain conscious and able to respond to instructions during the procedure, but you will feel completely relaxed.

Not only can sedation dentistry be of help to you, but it can also enable your dentist to complete more of your dental work in a single visit, as he is able to work more efficiently when you are relaxed.

Sedation dentistry does not take the place of the normal local anesthetic used to work on your teeth. Local anesthetic is necessary to eliminate pain in the mouth while your teeth are being worked on. Sedation dentistry only allows you to be completely relaxed while the procedure is being performed.

Two popular approaches to sedation dentistry are:

• Oral Sedation
• Nitrous Oxide

In oral sedation, you are given a pill, usually a mild sedative or tranquilizer, when you arrive at the office. Your dentist won't start working on your mouth until the pill has had a chance to work, and you are feeling anxiety-free.
Oral sedation takes some time to wear off, as well, so you'll want to be sure you have someone available to take you home after your visit.

Nitrous oxide isn't used until you're in the dentist's chair, but it takes effect immediately. Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, has been used for a long time as a sedative for dental work. Again, you will be conscious and able to respond to instructions, but you will be completely relaxed, with a comfortable, "floaty" feeling that can make even a complex procedure seem to be finished in a matter of minutes.

Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

While anyone can request sedation dentistry, it's of particular help under the following conditions:

• You have had a difficult or traumatic past experience with the dentist
• Your teeth are particularly sensitive to pain, heat, or cold
• You have difficulty holding still during a dental procedure (this is particularly applicable for children)
• You need to have a great deal of work done, and would like to accomplish this in as few visits as possible

If you're interested in sedation dentistry, consult with your dentist to see what options are available.

If you live in the Northern Virginia area, Dr. Michael Chung, DDS, of Softouch Dental Care, offers sedation dentistry to his patients, as well as a unique office setting to increase your ease and comfort. Please visit our Oakton, Virginia dental offices website to find out what we can offer you to make your visit to the dentist as pleasant as possible.

Source: Softouch Dental Care
Website: http://softouchdentalcare.com

# # #