Article At A Glance
Patients with severe dental anxiety can benefit most from pain-free dentistry.
Dentists explore a variety of sedation techniques so patients feel no pain during major dental procedures.
Gentle dentistry for anxious patients calms their fears and helps maintain good dental and oral health.
Do you struggle with severe dental anxiety? This common issue affects countless people and causes them to neglect their oral health by avoiding trips to the dentist. Thankfully, there’s a way to endure dental appointments without any discomfort or fear.
Pain-free dentistry makes it possible to undergo comfortable dental treatment and provides dental anxiety relief. Discover what this practice involves, its benefits, and how you can overcome your fear of painful dental procedures.
The Benefits of Pain-Free Dentistry
It’s normal to feel nervous going into a dental appointment, especially if you need an invasive procedure such as a filling or tooth extraction. Doctors typically numb the affected area of your mouth with a local anesthetic, but this can still cause you some anxiety. To put patients more at ease during complex procedures, dentists explore other forms of sedation.
Below is a breakdown of the top advantages of visiting a dental clinic offering pain and anxiety-free dentistry.
Multiple Treatment Methods
For many patients undergoing tooth extractions or other dental procedures, doctors add a topical anesthetic to the area along with an injection. If you’re someone who gets extreme anxiety over the sight of a needle, this treatment might not be enough to squash your fears. A doctor who practices pain-free dentistry can utilize other forms of sedation, including:
- Oral sedation
- Intravenous sedation
- General anesthesia
- Nitrous oxide
You will either take a pill, receive anxiety medication through an IV drip, or breathe in calming gases to sedate you before the procedure.
Smoother Procedures
Say you need a tooth extracted, and the doctor only uses a local anesthetic to treat your gums. This numbing agent keeps you from feeling pain, but it doesn’t affect your gag reflex. You could feel the need to gag during the procedure, which poses difficulties for your dental team.
Opting for a stronger form of sedation, such as general anesthesia or nitrous oxide, also numbs your gag reflex, allowing dentists to perform each procedure without issue.
Additional Read: Need of sedation?click here to obtain further information.
Applicable for Various Procedures
While some people feel nervous before a major dental procedure like a root canal or wisdom teeth removal, others experience severe dental anxiety at the thought of a routine cleaning. Dental professionals can implement medication and relaxation techniques to calm someone’s fears no matter what brings them to the office. You can receive pain-free dentistry for a range of procedures, including:
- Tooth extractions
- Crowns and fillings
- Dental implants
- Jaw alignment surgery
- Root canals
If you’ve had bad experiences during routine cleanings but don’t want to neglect your oral health, you can also request sedation for a cleaning.
Enhanced Patient Experience
For patients with extreme anxiety, visiting the dentist can be a daunting experience. No healthcare professional wants their patients to feel uncomfortable, but certain relaxation techniques may not be enough to calm someone’s fears. Using a sedative, either in the form of oral medication or an intervenous drip, will instantly put a patient’s fears at ease and leave them with a comfortable and pain-free experience.
If you associate the dentist with negative experiences, it’s time to revise your thoughts. Practices like Affinity Dental offer pain-free dentistry so you can have a pleasant experience every time.
Improved Oral Health
Even if you brush and floss daily, you still need to have a dental professional examine and clean your teeth each year. Skipping dental visits because of anxiety can lead to a range of oral health problems, such as gum disease, tooth decay, and bone loss. Embrace pain-free dentistry so you don’t have to skip appointments out of fear and can enjoy healthier teeth.
Dentists understand that anxious patients can be the most hesitant to get treatment. However, your oral health can improve when you have an expert examine your teeth and provide a course of treatment for any issues that arise, including:
- Teeth sensitivity
- Tooth loss
- Overcrowding
Preserve your dental and oral health by visiting a dentist specializing in pain-free treatments.
Experience Superior Pain-Free Dental Care at Affinity Dental
Are you ready to say “goodbye” to severe dental anxiety and experience the benefits of pain-free dentistry? Schedule an appointment for a routine or restorative procedure at Affinity Dental, and we’ll make you as comfortable as possible with safe and effective sedation techniques. Contact our clinic today at 773-904-7079 to receive stress-free dental treatments and learn more.