” Fear has no boundaries. It can affect all types of people. There is no age, sex, economic, or race discrimination guidelines.”-DOCS Education 2010
Are you one of the millions of patients that have fear about coming to the dentist? Fear can range from mild anxiousness all the way to phobia that keeps people who need to seek dental treatment away. These are patients who are in pain, yet, are too scared to come in. Often times, dental problems become worse over time and then require more extensive dental treatment which only leads to more fear about seeking treatment and they cycle continues.
In an effort to be able to bring great dental care to these patients, our team recently returned from a course on oral conscious sedation in San Francisco. What an awesome way to provide treatment to so many people who are affected by fear associated with going to the dentist.
Break the cycle
The idea behind conscious sedation is that this cycle of fear is broken. Patients are able to get the care they need in a safe, fear-free, compassionate environment. Conscious sedation allows patients to remain awake and conscious and have the most relaxed comfortable appointment possible. Many patients feel like they slept the entire time. This creates little or no anxiety for the patient where they will have little or no memory of the appointment.
Many types of patients that might benefit from sedation dentistry: People with severe gag reflexes, anxious, fearful, or phobic patients, and people with complex treatment needs.
Relaxation is the key
People who are relaxed during and after dental treatment heal faster and will less post-operative pain, these people are then less likely to be apprehensive toward dental treatment and hopefully do not tend to avoid dental care in the future.
We hope we can be a step in breaking the cycle of fear for patients. We want to be an office where patients regardless of their emotional or dental needs feel safe, comfortable and well cared for.
We understand if you are fearful and it is ok that you do. You are not alone and we would love to be there for not only your dental needs, but your emotional ones too.
T o your health,
Dr. Bob
